SALISBURY — A variety of new businesses are setting up shop in downtown, from a full-service salon and spa to two — count them two — new music stores.
Retail and service options are expanding downtown, where people can buy a new bike or have an old one repaired. Newcomers to the downtown business scene also include a gift shop and women’s clothing boutique.
Still in the “coming soon” category — a bakery called Firehouse Sweets.
210 E. Innes St.

Having a bad hair day?
Get it cut, dyed, highlighted, extended, deep conditioned, straightened, tweezed or waxed in downtown Salisbury starting this month when a full-service salon opens on East Innes Street. Craig and Leslie Stopper of Mountain View, Calif. plan to open Salisbury Salon and Spa Oct. 16 next to the Gateway Building, with a ribbon cutting at noon.
This is not a small operation. The Stoppers have hired 18 employees, both part-time and full-time, including nine hair stylists.
The couple say they fell in love with Salisbury two years ago when they visited family here. They quit their jobs in California — Leslie ran a salon and Craig was a firefighter — and moved to Salisbury a year ago. They found a house, enrolled their kids in public schools and scouted for a good salon location.
When they toured the former law office at 210 E. Innes St., Leslie said she liked the layout, convenience and atmosphere. Divided into several small, brightly lit rooms, the salon offers more privacy than usual, she said.
Born in Vietnam and raised in California, Leslie has been pampering customers for 15 years. The salon has six nail stations, seven hair stations, seven pedicure chairs, two massage rooms and two facial rooms, as well as a room for body wraps and airbrush makeup and tans.
Attention parents: Children will have their own playroom with a TV, toys and art supplies.
The Stoppers are working with landlord John Smith to renovate the building and said they have only hired local labor.
“We want to help build this community up,” Leslie said.
The salon and spa will be open seven days a week, with ample parking behind the building. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
205 S. Main St.

On the heels of successful newcomer Adella Apparel on North Main, sisters Jaime Davis and Kristen Shytle have opened a new women’s clothing boutique on South Main.
Stella Rose Boutique offers brand-new clothing, shoes, purses and accessories in the storefront that previously has hosted used clothing and consignment shops, most recently Annabelle’s and Hot Junk.
Davis said she relocated Stella Rose from Winston-Salem in part because her cousin Greg Culp owns Hap’s Grill, a downtown Salisbury landmark. Nothing in the store costs more than $50, and she said she nearly sold out of under-$10 leggings and camis last weekend.
Husband Wesley Davis built the counter, decorated with tin that gives the shop a shabby-chic feel. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
107 S. Main St.

When String Fellows Music closed last year, customer Trent Griffin had to travel to buy strings and other accessories for his guitars. Eventually, he got tired of driving and started thinking about opening his own guitar shop.
A real estate agent who has worked with his mother Cathy Griffin for five years and played guitar for 15 years, Trent has leased the former Duck Blind Gallery location and plans to open Griffin’s Guitars later this month.
The shop will feature guitars, basses and banjos and offer repair and lessons. Penland Guitar Works will handle repairs. Griffin’s Guitars will carry accessories for band instruments, like reeds and slide oil, but not the instruments themselves.
“Some people feel like they’re a dying breed — bookstores and music stores — but I feel like Salisbury is the kind of community that will support it,” Trent said.
110 N. Main St.

Can downtown Salisbury support two music shops? Chris Gregg and David Brown think so.
While Griffin’s Guitars will specialize in guitars and banjos on South Main, co-owners Gregg and Brown said their shop, Guitars USA Music Store just a block away on North Main, will sell instruments of all kinds and cater to school band students.
Gregg owns Guitars USA in Lexington and said he had been thinking about expanding to Salisbury for years, especially after String Fellows closed. He partnered with Brown to open the new shop, which also will offer lessons and repair.
Set to open Nov. 8, Guitars USA will give away guitars and a snare drum during a grand opening celebration Nov. 8, 9 and 10.
“We are really into community enrichment,” Gregg said. “We want to make Salisbury a better place than before we came here.”
107 E. Innes St.

Brandy Dry has opened a new gift shop in the space that used to host two businesses, her former store This and That, as well as Peanut Doodles.
Landlord Michael Young offered Dry the option to take out an interior wall and open up the space, which Dry said she needs for her growing inventory. Dry sold This and That, which had two locations in Salisbury.
Back in heart of the city, Dry said she carries affordable merchandise so anyone can shop Curiosities as an alternative to Walmart. She plans to add clothing, shoes and jewelry to her selection that includes collectibles, paper goods, totes, mugs and more. Nearly everything can be personalized.
Running the store is a family affair, with both mother Myra Trexler and mother-in-law Mae Dry helping out. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
111 W. Innes St.

Eric Phillips chose wisely.
Phillips said sales have increased 40 percent since moving his bike shop two months ago from Mocksville to downtown Salisbury, where he’s located in the former Aull’s Printing and Copy. Best sellers include bike repairs, which Phillips does himself with help from his brother Scott, and kids’ bikes, which Phillips said he’s having a hard time keeping in stock.
“Salisbury has really been a good move for us,” he said. “We are doing better than meeting expectations.”
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.