What to Look for in a Salon Suite Facility — How We Built Reed + Willow

Published by Reed + Willow Salon Studios · Weldon Spring, MO

Updated June 2026 — Originally published September 2022

When you're choosing where to run your business, the building matters more than most beauty professionals realize until they're already in it. The wrong space — bad parking, thin walls, poor lighting — affects your clients' experience, your ability to focus, and ultimately your income.

We know this because we spent a long time thinking about exactly that before we ever broke ground.

Reed + Willow Salon Studios opened on May 1, 2023 in Weldon Spring, MO. Here's what went into finding and building it — and what we think every beauty professional should look for when evaluating a salon suite facility.

Location First — Always

We started location scouting knowing that the right address would determine everything else. For a salon suite facility to work for independent beauty professionals, it needs to be somewhere clients are already comfortable going.

That meant we needed:

Easy highway access. Reed + Willow is located near the intersection of Highways 94 and 364 — easily accessible from St. Charles, St. Peters, O'Fallon, Cottleville, Wentzville, and Chesterfield without navigating surface streets.

Ample parking. Nothing kills a client's first impression faster than circling a parking lot. Our building has generous parking so your clients arrive relaxed, not frustrated.

Nearby amenities. We may be a little biased, but Starbucks, Panera, and Target all within 5 minutes is not a coincidence — it's a feature. Your clients can grab coffee before their appointment. You can grab lunch between clients. The area feels like somewhere people want to be.

Evaluating the Building

Once we had the right location, we evaluated the building itself carefully. Several things stood out immediately.

A modern, well-maintained exterior. First impressions start in the parking lot. We wanted a building that looked professional and current — not run down. The exterior of our building is modern and well-kept, which signals to your clients before they walk in that this is a place worth going.

High deck height. The raw space we selected had exceptional ceiling height potential. That meant we could build with high ceilings throughout — something that makes an immediate and dramatic difference in how a space feels. Low ceilings make even beautiful suites feel cramped. High ceilings make everything feel elevated.

A prime position in the building. Our space sits at the center of the building beneath a large decorative stone facade — the main focal point of the entire strip mall. That's where our sign lives, giving Reed + Willow high visibility from the road for both your clients and potential new renters discovering us for the first time.

What We Built Inside

The space we leased was completely empty — bare walls, bare floors, nothing. Everything you see at Reed + Willow today was designed and built from scratch. That gave us full control over every decision, and we made the most of it.

Suite doors and windows with substantial glass. This sounds minor until you've worked in a suite with residential hollow-core doors and small fixed windows. We chose a commercial-grade doors and window package throughout — they look elevated, feel substantial, and signal to your clients that this is a professional environment. The generous glass panels in the doors, along with the side-lites and clerestory windows bring light from the hallways and the front of the building into all of the suites and give the space an open, airy quality that most salon suite facilities don't have. Suite owners also have the ability to add opaque film to their suites where complete privacy is required.

Wide hallways with archways throughout. Salon suite facilities with narrow corridors feel cramped and institutional. We designed wide hallways throughout the building so clients and professionals move through the space comfortably. The archways we incorporated throughout the facility add an architectural detail that elevates the overall aesthetic — it's the kind of thing you notice without quite knowing why the space feels better than others.

Insulated walls and ceilings between every suite. This was one of the best investments we made and one we're grateful for every single day. Sound transfer between suites is one of the biggest complaints professionals have about shared facilities. When you're doing a facial, having a consultation, or performing a delicate service, you need quiet. We insulated the walls and ceilings between every suite — creating a genuinely private work environment that is acoustically private, not just visually private. Your clients notice. You'll notice.

More cabinetry than any competitor. We designed each suite with more built-in storage than any other salon suite facility in the area. That means fewer tools on the counter, more organized workspaces, and a cleaner aesthetic for your clients. Every suite includes quartz countertops with integrated wireless phone chargers — because the details matter when you're building a brand.

A large break room with free washers and dryers. This is something most salon suite facilities skip entirely, and we think that's a mistake. A real break room — not a corner with a coffee maker — gives suite owners a place to decompress, eat lunch, and connect with the other professionals in the building. The free on-site laundry is a practical benefit that adds up quickly. But beyond the practicality, the break room is where the community at Reed + Willow actually happens. Referrals get made. Friendships get built. That's something you can't manufacture — you can only create the conditions for it.

A dedicated color processing area. Most salon suite facilities don't have this, and it's a significant differentiator for hairstylists. Our color processing area gives stylists a comfortable space to seat a client while color processes — allowing you to double-book and service another client in your suite at the same time. It's one of the features our hairstylists mention most when they tell other stylists why they chose Reed + Willow.

The finishing touches. Our owner Meghan holds a master's degree in architecture and worked as an architectural designer before opening Reed + Willow. That background showed up throughout the design — from the handmade leather bathroom signs to the custom suite directory to the individually numbered suite signage. These aren't afterthoughts. They're deliberate decisions made to elevate the experience of being in this building, for you and for your clients.

What We Have Today

Reed + Willow Salon Studios at 1090 Wolfrum Rd, Weldon Spring, MO currently has:

• 31 private suites — including 2 double suites for professionals who want more space or plan to share with a colleague

• Commercial-grade doors and windows throughout

• Wide hallways with architectural archways

• Fully insulated walls and ceilings between suites

• A dedicated color processing area

• A large break room with free on-site washers and dryers

• Private single-user restrooms

• 24/7 app-based keyless entry

• Free high-speed WiFi throughout

• Ample free parking

Every suite includes a business startup package, your own webpage on our website, and 2 weeks of free rent every year.

What to Look for When You're Evaluating Salon Suite Facilities

If you're currently comparing salon suite options in St. Charles County or the greater St. Louis area, here's the checklist we'd give you:

• Parking — Is there enough? Is it free? Is it right outside?

• Location — Can your clients get there easily from where they live?

• Building condition — Does the exterior look modern and well-maintained, or run down?

• Ceiling height — Does the space feel open and professional or low and cramped?

• Wall and ceiling insulation — Ask specifically. Most facilities don't have

  it.

• Door quality — Commercial or residential? It tells you a lot about the overall build quality.

• Hallway width — Walk the building. Does it feel professional or cramped?

• Storage and cabinetry — How much counter and cabinet space does each suite actually have?

• Common areas — Is there a real break room with laundry? A color processing area? Or just a suite and a hallway?

• Ownership — Is this a national franchise or a locally owned facility where the owner actually picks up the phone?

We built Reed + Willow to check every one of those boxes. If you want to see it in person, we'd love to give you a tour.

📍 1090 Wolfrum Rd, Weldon Spring, MO 63304 📞 (314) 384-6480 📧 info@reedandwillowsalon.com

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Reed + Willow Salon Studios is locally owned and operated. We are not a national franchise.