Sporting a new 'do

Posted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 11:15:30 pm PST
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By RICK THOMAS
Staff writer 

RICK THOMAS/Press Stylist Heather Mitchell, left, and owner Stacie Bishop stand among the sports apparel and other items at Pro Cuts, a men's "sports salon" in the River City Center.

Pro Cuts recently opened as a men's sports salon, which features a 50-inch TV and a range of memorabilia

POST FALLS -- It may seem like a strange mix, but then again, it just could work.

A haircut, a sports jersey, and maybe even a beer can all be gotten under one room at Pro Cuts Men's Sports Salon, and owner Stacie Bishop thinks it could lead to franchise opportunities.

With help from family members, she recently opened Pro Cuts, in the River City Center at Highway 41 and Mullan Avenue. There, men can get a hot towel, shampoo, and a haircut without an appointment, and watch a sports channel on a 50-inch plasma screen while they're waiting.

The complimentary beverage, for now, is a soda, but Bishop may decide beer's good, too.

"We just got our license," she said on Tuesday. "We have to decide which way to go."

Beer was to have been part of the deal, until she realized she'd have to limit herself to customers over age 21, even if she gave away the adult beverage.

There's also the issue of the rest of the shop. It's chock full of sports goods, from $2 trinkets to a $130 Super Bowl jacket.

"If a mom comes in to buy a gift, she couldn't bring her children in," Bishop said.

Bishop's brother, Bob Delbridge, owned a pro shop, and the two, along with her dad Bill Delbridge and cousin Michael Delbridge, partnered up to open Pro Cuts.

They carry college and professional goods, including Nascar licensed products. They hope to franchise the idea, with a salon in Coeur d'Alene or Lewiston by next summer.

Bishop said she believes it's an original idea, something she's never seen.

"Especially a place where you can get a beer, a haircut and watch sports," she said. "That's what would set us apart."

Since they don't take appointments, the waiting area is equipped with four oversized leather recliners around the big TV. Each of the three styling stations also has a smaller set.

Walls are filled with caps and jerseys, and thousands of other items from keychains, freezeable mugs, fleece blankets, tailgate grills and gift buckets -- ice buckets filled with sports items -- fill much of the shop.

The full treatment, hot towel, shampoo and haircut, with beverage, costs $15, or $10 for under age 10 or over age 65.

For now, it's just Bishop and her cousin, Heather Mitchell, working six days a week in the shop. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, so they're looking for help to use the third chair.

Whether the beverage will be beer or not may not matter much, since Paddy's Too is just a couple of doors down in the center. And kids like Caleb Mcluskie, 6 of Post Falls, a Lakers fan who got a haircut Tuesday, could help fill those chairs.

"It's awesome," said his mom, Jennifer, who said she'll send her husband and three sons in for haircuts.

"He plans to drop off the kids and go to Paddy's," she said. "That probably wouldn't work."

Information: 773-1300.