×

Falconer Businesses Impacted By Fire Reopen In Village

The Body Shoppe tattoo shop is one of the businesses impacted by the downtown fires in Falconer that has decided to reopen in Falconer. Pictured are Falconer Mayor James Rensel; David Luke, owner; Kim Stevens, shop manager; and Mitchell Smith, tattoo artist. P-J photo by Katrina Fuller

After two fires, less than a year apart, ravaged the downtown Falconer area, two local businesses are opening their doors to the community once more.

While they are not in their original locations, Roots Salon and The Body Shoppe have decided to remain in the village and give business a go again.

The Body Shoppe was impacted by the first fire in 2017.

David Luke, shop owner, said he was in the building above the tattoo shop showering when he smelled the smoke that day in March 2017.

“That was an interesting day,” he said. “I could smell the smoke, and I looked out the window and all you could see was the smoke going across the window. I ran downstairs and knocked on doors, then I got the heck out of there.”

Luke said the Falconer Volunteer Fire Department did such a good job, he was able to save a majority of his belongings.

He said he invested time and energy to make sure his business remained in Falconer, and found the current location at 43 W. Main St. Luke said they have been at the location for about a year, but had to put in a lot of work to make it function as a tattoo shop.

“To turn it from the tuxedo and dress shop that it was into a tattoo shop is no easy chore,” he said. “We started from scratch.”

Shop Manager Kim Stevens said she is thankful that the clients chose to wait for the renovations and continued supporting the shop.

“We had to come from the ground up, reconstruction everything — to make it a tattoo facility,” Kim Stevens, shop manager. From new plumbing to new flooring, it has to pass health code standards and it’s taken us a little bit longer than anticipated, but we’re getting back up there.”

Rensel said he remembers driving by the location late at night during the renovation stage and seeing Luke and his team hard at work.

“I’m just glad he chose to stay in Falconer,” he said. “I’m sure he had other choices he could’ve made.”

Rensel said he appreciates how Luke runs his business and appreciates the art work that he and his shop produces.

“I’m not in the market for a tattoo,” Rensel said. “But when I did come in here, there was a young lady sitting on the couch, and (Luke) was busy talking to me, and I got to chit-chatting with her. She volunteered that ‘He’s the only one who does work on me,’ and she was waiting patiently until he was done talking to me.”

The Body Shoppe is open from 3-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with appointments only on Sundays. For more information, call 969-8444 or find them on Facebook.

Roots Salon

Roots Salon was impacted by both the 2017 and 2018 fires, and has since moved to Lister Avenue in Falconer. The shop will open today at 9 a.m.

Stacey Howser, owner, said the salon is offering full services at the new location, such as hair care for the whole family, facial waxing, gel nails and more. She said they are looking for a massage therapist and an acrylic nail technician. There are a few other services coming in the future, such as microblading for eyebrows, but Howser said she would like to be more established before that happens.

“After the second fire, we looked for buildings around the Falconer area,” Howser said. “We wanted to stay as close to Main Street as we could, and obviously have a building in good condition. Tony Genco owns this building, and he built it four years ago, but the space here has never been rented.”

Howser said she and Genco share a mutual friend, who put them in contact and it turned out that the space was workable.

“I think it’s going to be perfect now that it’s done,” she said. “We’re just back, starting again.”

Howser said it has been about three months since the fire. She said in that time, the community, loved ones and their clientele have been helpful.

The shop is located at 97 Lister Ave. in Falconer. Hours will vary, Howser said, with the shop being open most days by 9-10 a.m., but at times, as late at noon to 1 p.m. The shop will generally close at 5:30-6 p.m., but could close earlier or later on some days. For more information, call 664-2204.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today