Eddy's On Coventry opens for business

In Coventry, one of the original owners of now-closed Fast Eddy’s Chop Shop, Eddy Maddox has opened his own hair salon. Photo by Kelli Fontenot.

A new hair salon has opened in Coventry, aiming to please clients “who place value in details,” said owner Eddy Maddox, one of the original owners of now-closed Fast Eddy’s Chop Shop.

A welcoming atmosphere, friendly service and artistic décor are among the features that Maddox hopes visitors will notice at Eddy’s On Coventry, LLC, in addition to high-quality, full-service hairstyling.

Product lines such as Pureology, Aquage and Redken will be used when styling, and staff will serve visitors homemade cookies and lemon ice water, made with organic lemons, Maddox said. Also focusing on interior design, during construction Maddox added a fireplace mantel, a product storage unit that resembles the side of a barn, and metal art to give the space what he calls an “industrial vintage vibe.”

“The salon has a warm, homey feeling to it. I’ve brought in some antiques and mixed them in with modern pieces,” Maddox said. “When people come in, I want to give them a great haircut, but I also want to give them a great experience and for them to feel at home.”

The 800-square-foot location houses six cutting stations and employs three stylists—Raqui Brown, who worked for five years at Fast Eddy’s; Renee Bennett, formerly of Crazy Mullets; and Maddox, who has 23 years of experience cutting and styling hair.

Originally from Cuyahoga Falls, Maddox opened Fast Eddy’s with a partner in 2004, and also has helped to open five other establishments in the area. While he gained technical abilities from his studies in Chicago, Toronto and London, Maddox also loves to “cut free form,” like a musician, he said. His passion for styling originally stemmed from a need to pay for college courses. He joined the U.S. Army after high school, and after he got out, decided to go to beauty school to help pay for classes. Since then, he estimates he has given thousands of haircuts, and is continuing his work at Eddy’s On Coventry.

Opening a business is extremely rewarding, noted Maddox, who said he hopes to expand his newest endeavor after its first year by opening a second location.

“There’s no better feeling than when you come up with a concept and then a year later you have a full staff and a waiting room full of people,” he said.

The salon offers cuts for women at $25 and up, men at $25 and up, and kids at $20, and also provides root retouching, highlights, styling and facial waxing.

In terms of style, Maddox prefers haircuts that are “soft and touchable,” and he loves it when people bring pictures and have a good idea of their desired end result. “Sometimes people can’t articulate what they want,” he said, adding that he asks questions, listens and offers suggestions to help customers come up with the perfect look.

SIDEBAR:
Eddy's on Coventry
1785 Coventry Rd.
Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
www.eddysoncoventry.com

Kelli Fontenot

Kelli Fontenot is a writer and editor living in Cleveland Heights.

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Volume 4, Issue 8, Posted 12:46 PM, 07.12.2011