Charisma Salon's 'growing' business needed more room.

This article is part of a recurring series that updates the status of properties of interest in the Erie area. Have a suggestion? Email jmartin@timesnews.comor Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.

After a few years of planning following some renovations, Charisma Salon has completed its move into a larger space. They didn't go far.

Charisma Salon has moved down the row — in the same building — to 408 State St. from their previous location at 406 State St.

Owner Jennifer Bond saw a need for a larger space, which became available following the pandemic.

“I have probably been at capacity for about five years,” said Bond, who had a grand opening scheduled Saturday. “We had expanded twice in our old space, and I just had our clientele growing, we have more clients calling to get in than I have stylists. So I felt the need to increase business and I didn’t have the space. After COVID this new space became available, and I thought it was time.”

The space was previously home to the Flagship Laundromat and 408 Bar and Grill. Bond, whose family owns the entire building and apartments above, spent more than $500,000 in renovations to expand the business into her vision.

"Jen has done a phenomenal job," said Emily Fetcko, CEO of Erie Downtown Partnership. "She worked hard to grow her business and to be able to expand it, which of course is a catalyst for changing a habitually vacant space. Now it's activated with this new renovated space that's going to stay downtown."

Charisma’s previous space at 406 State St. will soon be home to The Copper Carriage which is set to have a grand opening May 25.

"She has also facilitated the growth of other female-led businesses in a commercial core," Fetcko said. "So inviting Copper Carriage owned by Stephanie and Joe Hunt to be part of that block and go into her former salon space, in addition to (supporting) Ye Old Sweet Shoppe in their expansion, giving them the space formerly held by the laundry mat.

Now open: A new restaurant, Roma's Italian Kitchen, hopes to fill 'void' of Serafini's closure

"Now you have three female-led businesses side by side creating this very unique, interesting, experiential business model downtown."

Charisma Salon expansion includes more services and staff

With a bigger space, the salon — and now spa — can offer more services to clients.

“We have expanded into spa services, which was something that we did not have previously,” Bond said. “We added manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing, lashes and brows; we (will) almost double our staff size once we hit capacity.”

Bond told the Times-News that she currently has 12 employees and has hired five new ones over the past two weeks. Those new employees will all be starting within the next two weeks of the May 18 opening.

Introduction of the new space

Following her soft opening in late April, Bond said she wanted the business to have a grand opening.

“We wanted to show off this space,” Bond said. “I want to thank everyone who helped us get here. We will have a ribbon cutting with the Downtown Partnership. Then we will have drinks and appetizers, some basket giveaways, so we’ve been sharing that on social media and between our clients and friends.”

The ribbon cutting will take place Saturday around 5 p.m.

“We’re happy to be part of downtown’s revitalization,” Bond said. “I’ve always loved downtown. I chose to keep my business here rather than anywhere else. I just look forward to everything picking up and to everything they have to offer down here.”

Learn more about Charisma Salon by visiting their Facebook page or by calling 814-456-9222.

Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Charisma Salon relocates to larger downtown Erie location