Eddy Maddox's quarter-century of style

Eddy Maddox

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Eddy Maddox has been cutting hair for more than a quarter of a century.

His salon — Eddy’s on Coventry — has a unique atmosphere. The waiting area offers lemon water, coffee and fresh cookies, as well as magazines and a TV, so his customers can relax while waiting for their haircut.

At each cutting stall mirrors are affixed to old house doors. His supply storage area features the doors that used to be on the changing rooms at the Brigade clothing store, a previous occupant of the space.

Eddy’s on Coventry has many five-star ratings on yelp.com.  “We constantly get customers as a result of those reviews,” Maddox said.

Maddox, 49, grew up in Cuyahoga Falls. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.  He befriended a fellow soldier who cut hair. “We used to talk about what we wanted to do after we left the Army,” Maddox said. “He said he wanted to go back to Los Angeles and cut hair. I decided I would like to try that out.”

After the Army, Maddox went to cosmetology school. He got his first job as a stylist at an Akron salon called Bessay. He worked for nine years at Dino Palmieri’s at the Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted.

In 2004, Maddox decided to open his own salon. Called Fast Eddy’s Chop Shop, the salon was located on Coventry above the Vidstar video store, now The Exchange record, CD and video store.

 “I loved it,” Maddox said. “It was a great experience. I did not know a lot about running a business, so it was kind of like my college. I learned about hiring and running a staff and trying to make the business profitable.”

Maddox owned Fast Eddy’s with a partner, and in 2009, they parted ways. “We had a disagreement about the direction of the business,” Maddox said. Fast Eddy’s closed and Maddox worked at other salons in the Heights. Then in 2011, he opened Eddy’s on Coventry, on the east side of the street near Mayfield Road. “Business has been fantastic,” he said. “It’s the best shop I’ve ever had.”

One of the stylists, Andrea Berman, worked with Maddox at Fast Eddy’s Chop Shop. Maddox has recently hired a new barber, Chuck Falk, who gives shaves, close and clean cuts, and tends to men’s grooming needs.

Maddox, who lives on the west side, loves the Coventry area. “There’s no place like it in Northeast Ohio,” he said. “There are people walking around on the street all day long, and I love all the independent shops. Over the last nine years, there have been a lot of changes for the good.”