Laurelhurst Business Closes After 45 Years

Select Hair Salon, closed its doors last week after 45 years in the same spot in Laurelhurst. David Blackman, the owner of Select Hair Salon, originally called Select Coiffures, had leased the space next to the China Restaurant since 1965.

Blackman, and his wife, Kristin, who also worked at the salon can no longer afford the space. "Not enough people are working there to cover the overhead," said Janet, one of the stylists.

"It's been shaky every since the economy started going down. So it's time for me to quit and let someone else drive. Because of the cost I'm ready to unload the responsibilities.," Blackman told our staff.

As bittersweet as it is, Blackman was not going to renew the lease when it came up again in March as he is reaching retirement at 71 years old.

Good news though, most of the stylists, including the owners, have joined the Wedgood Salon on 35th. And they say their clientele is moving with them.

If you had ever been in the salon, most of the clientele were elderly women and sitting by one of them was very intriguing just overhearing their stories as one of our staffers told us having been a client there for many years.

Blackman says some customers have been coming in as long as he's been there. "It's like home" he says for the customers. The customers grow to confide in their stylists after such a long long relationship.

Most of the clientele were mainly Laurelhurst and Windermere people he said. But many of those people are moving to retirement or "gone to their reward" so there aren't "too many people anymore," Blackman told us. And he said many now are mostly from Wedgwood and "that general direction, so we're moving in the right direction" (with the staff moving to a Wedgwood salon).

Blackman gave us some history on the businesses around his. His salon originally had one and half spaces for 15 years, then when the coffee shop moved in next door they took the half space and Select was left with just the original one side.

He said China Village has been there as long as he had been there with three different owners over the years. There was a busines called Laurelhurst Interior that sold carpets and tiles. Laurelhurst Catering Service existed at one time and there was also another salon owned by Pat Walsh who died many years ago. And Blackman said Margaret Tapping ran a dance school near his business.

Select had lots of really interesting old photos of Seattle on its walls. Blackman said the pictures will go to the Federal Courthouse with a federal judge who is a customer. "It's a good second life for them.

"Most everything will have a second life" he told us. The hydraulic chairs, mirrors, shampoo chairs and decorative chairs are all going to Tunga. Two women caretakes for a woman in Laurelhurst who was a customer are from there.

The caretakers will be going back in two years to retire and will take the equipment with them and open a beauty salon. "It's easily done. All you have to do is find place and go to work, no license, insurance or anything is needed" (in Tunga), Blackman said. His wife, and him will go to Tunga in the future to "visit the equipment."

About all the furniture moving so far away, Blackman says, "Whether it's better or not I don't know. At least it's not going to the dump."

Blackman says its very difficult for him to leave the salon. He said "It's like home, losing part of myself here. But on the other hand it will be a relief to be out from under responsibilities for the money part and employee and maintenance and making sure everything's done."

Good luck to you and your employees David. You were a great fixture in Laurelhurst.