Shine n' Shave Up at Ray's Barber Shop on Main

Good news! More small businesses are taking the leap towards downtown storefronts, presumably to take advantage of City Creek bringing a sense of permanence. But it's wonderful how many of these including Beckett & Robb Bespoke Tailors and Ray's Barber Shop, which opened it's second location this week on Main Street seem to be cut from a different cloth.

I learned about Beckett and Robb's from the excellent CityHome Collective. Then my friend Johnny Peppinger who is passionate about old fashioned shoe shining told me about Ray's opening this just this week. Both are on the same block and could stand to bennefit from eachother what with the revival for all things hand crafted and service oriented. I'm happy to see Johnny, my one and only 'Shoe Shine Extrordinaire' getting his own stations in the window at Ray's from Tuesday-Thursday 3:3o-6pm. Now I can drop off my shoes or stop in for a shine at the drop of a hat.

Ray Francom, a 3rd generation barber from Wyoming who I met tonight seems just as excited about his new location. One that must have some history looking at these interior paintings and wood work. What started out as a one chair shop has now grown into one of Salt Lake City’s premier barber shops since his start in 2005. All I can say is that shops like this opening add to the snowballing effect we're feeling and life and energy in SLC just seem to be getting better. What or who will be next?