|
|
|
| Home | About Us | E-Franchise | Employment | Join Us | Shopping | Email Us | Guide |
| Affiliate | Our Mission | E-Partner | Free Classified | Earning | Add URL | Site Map | FAQ |
|
West Jordan plots against Bikini Cuts WEST JORDAN "It's always a beautiful view here at Bikini Cuts." So goes the enthusiastic phone greeting. But that view has West Jordan officials conspiring against Utah's racy hair salon, which recently applied for a business license in the heart of this conservative community. During this week's City Council meeting, West Jordan Mayor Bryan Holladay and Councilman Kim Rolfe balked at the prospect of the business locating in their city. They also fear a public backlash over bikini-clad stylists cutting the hair of primarily male clients. "If people call us and say, 'What are you going to do about this?' I think we need to have them flood [the landlord] with calls," Holladay said. "Unfortunately, legally, we can't do very much beyond that, but I think we need to continue to devise a strategy." The salon is looking to fill eight beach-themed chairs in a new building on the corner of 7800 South and Redwood Road -- two blocks north of City Hall. Under municipal code, the "personal care service" is a permitted use, said Tom Burdett, community development director. "Right now they are just people applying to open a barbershop wearing attire you'd normally see at a swimming pool," West Jordan City Attorney Roger Cutler told the council. But Councilman Rob Bennett acknowledged, "it may get ugly," predicting that some people in this fast-growing suburb will view the novelty salon in the town center as offensive. Bikini Cuts has been down this road before. After battling Sandy leaders last year when launching the first location, owner Bethany Prince has tried three times to open a second store in either Sugar House or Murray. "We should have already had two more locations open by now," Prince said. "At this point, we're just trying to get what we can get." Meanwhile, Bennett says developer Al Belt -- who owns the West Jordan building Bikini Cuts hopes to rent -- is frustrated by the city's insistence that he remove a 14-foot JB's sign left on the property after the restaurant was recently razed. "We're wondering if [offering Bikini Cuts a lease] is not a way for him to get back at the city," Bennett said. "He's bragged this is prime real estate. This may be retaliation." Belt could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Bennett, who invoked the Utah Jazz dancers, said ultimately West Jordan officials may be hard-pressed to deny the business -- whatever the community outcry. "It makes it hard for us to impose a double standard that says it's OK to allow this at the Delta Center but not OK at a hair business."
|
|
