Businesses relocate in uptown Lexington
Rick Grubb says his walk-in business has picked up since relocating his barber shop from Young Drive to 14 W. First Ave. in uptown Lexington. {Vikki Broughton Hodges/Davidson Local}
A local barber shop has moved to uptown Lexington, a video gaming store has relocated within the uptown district and a real estate business is renovating the former Parks Printing building on North Main Street for its new office.
Rick Grubb opened Paladins Barber Shop at 14 W. First Avenue, in the former Art’s Place jewelry store, in February and held a grand opening in March.
Grubb, a 1984 graduate of West Davidson High School and a 2000 graduate of the Winston-Salem Barber School, has been a barber for 12 years at several area shops. He opened, Paladins (which was formerly on Young Drive) almost two years ago.
“I do traditional haircuts with a hot lather neck shave,” he said. “A lot of people don’t offer that anymore.”
Grubb also offers beard trims but doesn’t do facial shaves.
The Tyro native had been looking for a space uptown and has been pleased with the relocation of his business.
“Business has been a lot better since I moved uptown — I get foot traffic I didn’t have before,” he said. Half of his business is currently walk-ins in addition to his regular clients with appointments.
As for the shop name, Grubb explained, “A Paladin is a noble knight — I thought it sounded better than Rick’s Barber Shop.”
A self-described “geek,” Grubb’s shop is filled with displays of superhero collectibles and a vintage video game that keeps customers of all ages entertained while waiting their turns. There is a sales display of Suavecito pomades. The barber would like to add a nail technician to offer manicures and pedicures to men and women but hasn’t found anyone yet.
Since he had the space, Grubb partnered with Watson Candle Co. owner Brad Watson to carry his line of wood wick soy candles made in Reedy Creek and sold at a shop in Tyro as well as online.
The barbershop is open from 9 a.m. to 5 pm. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Saturday hours are by appointment only. People can book appointments online or call the shop at (336)365-0300.
A couple of blocks over from the barber shop, Wson “Sonny” Buonya relocated his vintage video game store, SML Retro Gaming, from 1 W. Center St., just behind the Old Court House on the Square, to 17 W. Second Ave. in December. He has been in business for a year but moved when the demolition of the adjacent five-story Lexington State Bank building began.
“When they tore down the bank there was nowhere to park except across a very busy street,” he lamented.
Sonny Buonya stands in front of his storefront at 17. W. Second Avenue in uptown Lexington. The owner of SML Retro Gaming said his brother, Yosep Buonya, designed the new logo that incorporates vintage gaming consoles. {Vikki Broughton Hodges/Davidson Local}
The owner of Sinfully Delicious bakery on West Second Avenue, Wende Everhart, told him about a vacancy on the busy side street and he jumped at the chance to relocate. A used furniture store, The Dusty Dresser, was located in the space.
“I just fell in love with this space — I knew it was going to work for me,” Buonya said. “It’s about the same size but it’s just more open and looks like a storefront. We get a lot more foot traffic here.”
SML Retro Gaming buys, sells and trades vintage video games as well as buys, sells and trades retro to new-generation consoles. Most of the retro games and consoles span from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. He specializes in console repairs, which he said draws customers from around the Triad.
The logo for The District Group real estate firm at 207 S. Main St. incorporates a train image for the Depot District. The real estate business plans to move to North Main Street when renovations are complete in the former Parks Printing building. {Contributed photo}
The store is open from noon-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Not far from West Second Avenue, The District Group, brokered by EXP Realty, has made its home at 207 S. Main St., the former location of Travels Unlimited, for several months after starting out a year ago at 415 N. Main St.
Josh Tackett of Welcome and Andrew Childers of Denton, brokers and owners of the firm affiliated with EXP, have 15 agents selling homes in Davidson, Forsyth, Rowan, Guilford and Randolph counties. Additionally, the real estate company builds homes and develops land.
“We’re both local and Lexington is a good central location for us,” Tackett explained.
The firm had to move when the building its original office was in was sold but they are planning to relocate again in September to the former Parks Printing building at 307, 309 and 311 N. Main St. The company is renovating the building to house its office on one side of the bottom floor, lease the other half and put two Airbnb apartments on the second floor.
