Encore Studio in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown Merging with Douglas J Salon
05/04/2021
This article originally appeared on mlive.com
ANN ARBOR, MI — Residents will soon witness a merger of two well-known Ann Arbor salons.
Douglas J Salon, 500 E Liberty St, is moving and merging with Encore Studio, 407 N Fifth Ave in Kerrytown, on May 10.
“Although this move is just a few miles away from our current salon, it will provide a new and unique guest experience with the shops, restaurants and Farmer’s Market that bring life to Kerrytown,” Michelle Murad, Douglas J Salon executive director of marketing, said.
Encore Studio opened in 1990. Current owners, Ali Lenneman and Michelle Plantz, worked at Encore Studio as stylists for more than a decade before becoming co-owners in 2008, Lenneman said.
As co-owners, they have worked to create an educational, professional, and relaxing environment for their customers and stylists, Lenneman said. They believe Douglas J Salon is able to provide that same atmosphere and are excited to see what new approaches they bring to styling hair, she said.
Douglas J Salon approached Lenneman and Plantz in late 2019, Lenneman said.
“They approached us looking for a location in Kerrytown. They loved kind of our whole motto, I think of just our location, kind of our vibe,” Lenneman said.
The companies reconnected in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to the merger of their companies, bringing new changes to services and products provided, Lenneman said.
As the companies merge, they will no longer provide nail services as they shift their focus on styling hair, Lenneman said.
“It’s all things hair, I believe. It’s all different colors, keratin straighteners, updos,” Lenneman said. “Pretty much anything you would find at any salon and at any full service hair salon, we will do every (hair) service I believe is out there.”
Although there will no longer be a nail tech, Douglas J Salon will bring in a new eyelash extension service, Murad said.
Encore Studio will continue providing their products from Bumble and Bumble, as well as Kevin Murphy, Lennaman said. Douglas J Salon will add a new line of Aveda products to the location, she said.
The new salon will carry the Douglas J Salon name, but will keep the Encore Studio stylists, and Lenneman and Plantz will continue to play a part in how business is conducted as co-owners with Douglas J Salon, Lenneman said.
“We weren’t looking to leave… Michelle and I have been there for so long. The thought of being anywhere else was not even a thought in our mind,” Lenneman said. “Our staff wants to stay, too. They’ve all been with us for many, many years. We’ve all been kind of like a family there. So just kind of the thought of adding people to the family with kind of the same passion and everything was a win-win.”
