Maurice Carpenter plans to expand his Clippers barbershop chain with new stores in west Chesterfield and Henrico. (Photo by Jack Jacobs)
A local barbershop chain is in expansion mode.
Clippers Barbershop already has three stores in the area and is planning two new locations on opposite ends of town.
One will open at The Lake mixed-use project under construction in west Chesterfield, and the other will open in a commercial section of the Springdale Park development near Richmond Raceway in Henrico.
They will be added to three existing Clippers stores at 1321 Hull Street and 14 Broad Street in Richmond and 4311 Old Hundred Road in Chester.
clippers owner maurice Carpenter said he aims to open The Lake after Christmas with 1,000 square feet of unbuilt space, a large mixed-use development in the early stages of construction. The lake will also see a surf pool and recreational lake facilities built alongside commercial and residential development, and Carpenter wants to make sure his store is the center of attention. .
“We want this store to be special,” Carpenter said, adding that he plans to spend about $100,000 to build and equip the store. “In my mind, it's like having a shop inside Disney.”
Before the Lake outpost opens, Clippers plans to open its Springdale Park store in Henrico, 4091 Concord Creek Place, by August.
The barber shop leased approximately 900 square feet of space in a new commercial building facing Mechanicsville Turnpike. The Clippers will occupy Suite C and share the same building with Dunkin' Coffee Shop and Wingstop Restaurant. Springdale Park is the former site of Henrico Plaza Shopping Center, which has been redeveloped into a large mixed-use district by Spy Rock Real Estate and Crescent Development.
The Clippers plan to open a Henrico store in the commercial district once construction of the Springdale Park development is complete.
Carpenter estimates it will cost $60,000 to build and equip the Springdale space.
Carpenter said he has taken care to develop a colorful and sophisticated décor for each Clippers store. He said The Lake outpost will have a unique design, while the Henrico spot will combine elements of the company's existing spots.
“Every place is very modern and happy,” he said.
Carpenter plans to hire 10 to 12 barbers at the Lake outpost and 10 barbers at the Henrico location.
As his barbershop portfolio grows, Carpenter, a music producer and real estate investor, said he plans to eventually start franchising the Clippers concept.