Stubble opens, marking a milestone for the city’s most popular salon
“We wanted a laid-back experience that our male clients will value and appreciate. "
One of Knoxville’s most popular salons has opened a new location – this time exclusively for barber services. “Stubble by grow” hosted a soft-open during the last week of October, attracting hundreds of people to the renovated building off Kingston Pike in Bearden.
We sat down with Drew Meredith, the Director of Operations for grow Knoxville: A Shane Archer Concept, who shared how the thriving business came to be.
Shane Archer founded grow Knoxville about ten years ago as a creative expression for his love of hair styling. Archer has received advanced training from industry leaders including Paul Mitchell, Redken, and Keratin Complex. Additionally, grow has been named in Salon Today’s Top 200 Salons in America for the past two years, and grow is the #1 L’ANZA Healing Center globally.
He’s extremely good at what he does. But don’t take our word for it – Cityview magazine awarded Archer as the “Best Colorist,” and “Best Stylist” seven years in a row.
grow Knoxville has proven itself to be not only one of the best salons in the state of Tennessee but also the country. In 2022, grow was named among the Salons of the Year. His is the only salon in the state to be named on the list.
Fast forward through a decade of accomplishment, Meredith detailed the idea to launch a barbershop.
“In 2021, we saw an increase in people seeking barber services. So, we decided to do a pop-up and it was so successful, we needed to create a separate brick-and-mortar,” Meredith said.
However, for many men entering a hair salon can be an overwhelming experience. Foils are flying all over the place, hair colorings happening around each corner, and fake hair extensions are being weaved into people’s scalps. Understandably, it can be a lot.
“We wanted a more laid-back experience that our male clients will value and appreciate,” Meredith said.
The vibe of Stubble is luxurious – or as Meredith refers to it “comfortable luxury.” It was designed by one of Knoxville’s most well-known interior designers and decorators, Todd Richesin.
The chairs in Stubble are a homage to the original design from the pop-up shop. They’re comfortable, gold, and have a chic vibe.
Meredith said he’s excited to see what clients think about the new location, design, and concept.
Another thing that makes the Stubble concept interesting is the addition of a membership for the most loyal customers. There are several levels of the program – Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Platinum members would receive two complimentary haircuts per month, two shaves or facials, unlimited neck trims, 20 percent off retail items, and a 20 percent discount for many grow Wellness treatments. Members can also reserve locker spaces to keep changes of clothes, snacks, and drinks to enjoy during their appointments.
Meredith said Stubble is just another example of how much grow Knoxville has expanded in the last few years.
“Our staff and stylists are the key. We work with great people, and we genuinely love our guests,” he said.
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