The Nesbit space was suddenly vacated in 2014. Photo by Michael Thompson.
A veteran Washington, D.C., entrepreneur has landed in Richmond for his latest venture.
Kelly Gorsuch earlier this month purchased the former Nesbit Salon and Spa property in the Fan, where he plans to open a high-end salon and barbershop later this year.
He paid about $800,000 for the 6,500-square-foot building at 2311 W. Main St., which has sat vacant since Nesbit closed suddenly in 2014 after 19 years in business.
“I was down there visiting a friend the day Nesbit went out of business,” Gorsuch said. “I’ve just been interested ever since.”
Gorsuch operates two Barber of Hell’s Bottom barbershops and a salon called Immortal Beloved, among other businesses, in D.C. Photos courtesy of Immortal Beloved.
The 37-year-old Gorsuch owns at least nine Washington-area businesses including two salons, two barbershops, a construction company, an e-commerce venture, and a forthcoming restaurant called The Shaw Bijou. He said he and his family now plan to make Richmond their home.
“I was looking for a city where I could enjoy the environment,” he said. “I love the architecture down there.”
Gorsuch said he was born into the salon and barber trade, as both his parents were hairdressers. He got involved when he was 17 and attended hair cutting school. At 24 he opened his first salon in Washington.
“I like the process of creating,” he said. “I like making things.”
In making over the Nesbit space, Gorsuch said he plans to use part of the building as a salon and the other side as a barbershop. He’s financing the venture himself, but would not say how much he is investing to get the yet-unnamed Fan salon open.
Brokers Read Goode and Cheryle Toy of Divaris Real Estate brokered the sale of 2311 W. Main St. Gorsuch said moving into a spot that has been a salon in the past means he won’t have to worry about getting new permits to do business there.
“I really prefer to take second-generation spaces,” he said. “It was super valuable to me that the place was a salon.”
Kelly Gorsuch
One of the big trends in the industry that he’ll look to capitalize on in Richmond is the rise in shops that cater to men in a time when men care more about their looks than they once did.
“Men are going back to barbershops,” he said. “It’s the fastest-growing segment for the past 10 years.”
Richmond entrepreneurs have taken note of the trend. Parkside Barber Shop & Grooming Lounge in the Innsbrook area caters to men looking for royal treatment, and High Point Barbershop & Shave Parlor has established itself in the Fan.
Gorsuch made clear he doesn’t pay much mind to the competition.
“I’m not selling cheeseburgers. I don’t have to compete with other people,” he said. “If you’re creating a good product, people will recognize it.”
The Nesbit space was suddenly vacated in 2014. Photo by Michael Thompson.
A veteran Washington, D.C., entrepreneur has landed in Richmond for his latest venture.
Kelly Gorsuch earlier this month purchased the former Nesbit Salon and Spa property in the Fan, where he plans to open a high-end salon and barbershop later this year.
He paid about $800,000 for the 6,500-square-foot building at 2311 W. Main St., which has sat vacant since Nesbit closed suddenly in 2014 after 19 years in business.
“I was down there visiting a friend the day Nesbit went out of business,” Gorsuch said. “I’ve just been interested ever since.”
Gorsuch operates two Barber of Hell’s Bottom barbershops and a salon called Immortal Beloved, among other businesses, in D.C. Photos courtesy of Immortal Beloved.
The 37-year-old Gorsuch owns at least nine Washington-area businesses including two salons, two barbershops, a construction company, an e-commerce venture, and a forthcoming restaurant called The Shaw Bijou. He said he and his family now plan to make Richmond their home.
“I was looking for a city where I could enjoy the environment,” he said. “I love the architecture down there.”
Gorsuch said he was born into the salon and barber trade, as both his parents were hairdressers. He got involved when he was 17 and attended hair cutting school. At 24 he opened his first salon in Washington.
“I like the process of creating,” he said. “I like making things.”
In making over the Nesbit space, Gorsuch said he plans to use part of the building as a salon and the other side as a barbershop. He’s financing the venture himself, but would not say how much he is investing to get the yet-unnamed Fan salon open.
Brokers Read Goode and Cheryle Toy of Divaris Real Estate brokered the sale of 2311 W. Main St. Gorsuch said moving into a spot that has been a salon in the past means he won’t have to worry about getting new permits to do business there.
“I really prefer to take second-generation spaces,” he said. “It was super valuable to me that the place was a salon.”
Kelly Gorsuch
One of the big trends in the industry that he’ll look to capitalize on in Richmond is the rise in shops that cater to men in a time when men care more about their looks than they once did.
“Men are going back to barbershops,” he said. “It’s the fastest-growing segment for the past 10 years.”
Richmond entrepreneurs have taken note of the trend. Parkside Barber Shop & Grooming Lounge in the Innsbrook area caters to men looking for royal treatment, and High Point Barbershop & Shave Parlor has established itself in the Fan.
Gorsuch made clear he doesn’t pay much mind to the competition.
“I’m not selling cheeseburgers. I don’t have to compete with other people,” he said. “If you’re creating a good product, people will recognize it.”
So glad and excited that the previous space, known as Nesbit, the Complete Body Salon has been bought and is set to become a men’s salon and barbershop. I’m excited that the space will be used and that it will have barbering. I actually started as a barber way back in 1981, mentored by Michael Gahan of Pine Street Barbershop.
Congratulations to Kelly Gorsuch, the new owner!