The Official Charlotte, NC Discussion Thread
- Thread starter Towlie
- Start date
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-around-town/c5-development/article245268060.html
Quarantine, leveled up: This bakery will deliver cheesecake to your door in Charlotte
By Kadee Blakely
August 28, 2020 10:08 AM,
The Cheesecake Studio’s Apple Pie Cheesecake is among its specialty flavors, which are available for $50. Alex Cason CharlotteFive
Charlottean Deneka Sampson has been a gifted baker with a sweet tooth for as long as she can remember, and — lucky for those around her — she loves to share the fruits of her gift.
Although she’s experimented with pies, cakes and other sweet treats, cheesecake has always been her calling — and as her favorite dessert, it’s no surprise.
“It’s so different from cake — it has that nice creamy aspect, but it doesn’t fall apart. You can dress cheesecake up like it’s cake, but there’s still a creamy texture. There’s something about it being in the middle,” Sampson said, explaining that cheesecake is magical to her.
It’s her first pick on any dessert menu at a restaurant, but eventually she began wondering if she could recreate it at home and make it taste just as good.
“I’ve always baked. And people in my family, or friends, or if I brought things to work, were always saying, ‘You should sell this stuff,” Sampson said.
The idea of creating multiple streams of income was also alluring for Sampson, who works for a corporate company in Charlotte.
Deneka Sampson is the owner of The Cheesecake Studio. She is holding an Apple Pie Cheesecake. Alex Cason CharlotteFive
Not just cheesecake — but Apple Pie Cheesecake, Banana Pudding Cheesecake
She began monetizing her talent in June 2018 at a Father’s Day vendor event called Love Desserts CLT. She took a leap of faith and served her most popular creation, the Apple Pie Cheesecake, along with her Banana Pudding Cheesecake. Both were a hit.
“That really shaped me and got me to realize people will really buy this. It helped me to keep going, knowing that I had a product people would buy,” Sampson said.
From that point on, cheesecake became her muse, and The Cheesecake Studio & More was born. She set aside a goal to make unique cheesecakes and has been committed to that purpose ever since.
“My goal is to master cheesecake and put out something that other cheesecake businesses don’t offer to bring a different inspiration,” Sampson said.
Two years later, her website is a catalog of cheesecake goodness. She currently offers traditional flavors like apple, strawberry, cherry, peach, blueberry, berry medley and Oreo. Specialty flavors kick things up a notch with options like Cookie dough, Apple Pie, Funfetti, Fruiti Pebble, Red Velvet, Cinnamon roll, peach cobbler, banana pudding, pumpkin, sweet potato and more – including the choice of a custom creation. Customers who can’t make up their mind can elect to order a “half & half” where you can pick two flavors.
The Cheesecake Studio’s basic flavors come in plain, apple, strawberry, cherry, peach, blueberry, berry medley and Oreo, and can be ordered for $35. Deneka Sampson
According to Sampson, the most popular of the bunch, and the first in flight, is the Apple Pie cheesecake. To see it is to experience the fusing of a lattice apple pie atop the sturdy base of a creamy cheesecake.
When she started toying around with a cinnamon roll flavor, she reached a next level in creativity. Immediately, she knew something special was on the horizon.
“There’s a jazz to it,” Sampson said of the creation. “I could eat it all day, every day.”
For smaller appetites, mini cheesecakes are available. And for the daredevils, the infused cheesecakes are the way to go. Each includes strawberries that have been infused with champagne or a Hennessy Maple Glaze. Those are available in mini cheesecakes and cupcakes, too.
Popular during COVID quarantine
Due to the pandemic, orders have been at their highest for the business owner, who makes deliveries in the Charlotte and surrounding areas.
“I’ve delivered as far as Monroe and have had orders in Fort Mill,” Sampson said. She’s willing to go the extra mile to see customers happy, even agreeing to meet customers for drop-offs if that’s what’s needed.
The recent upswing in business has also meant that she’s grown more of a following, so development and innovation have been at the forefront of her focus.
“I’m working on more [social media] content and developing new cheesecakes,” Sampson said about how she’s growing her business.
The Cookie Butter Cheesecake at The Cheesecake Studio CLT. GeorgiaBelle Photography
Eventually, she’d like to open a storefront where she can showcase her cheesecakes in a gallery-inspired layout. She also envisions it being a hub where she can showcase local artistry.
Until then, she’s committed to discovering new cheesecakes and cementing her individuality in the dessert business.
“I just want to focus on how I can be different in the industry,” Sampson said. “There are so many dessert places – I want us all to win.”
The Cheesecake Studio CLT
Delivery/pickup only
Place your cheesecakes order using a form on the website, email or text (980) 292-5755.
Instagram: @thecheesecakestudioclt
Quarantine, leveled up: This bakery will deliver cheesecake to your door in Charlotte
By Kadee Blakely
August 28, 2020 10:08 AM,
The Cheesecake Studio’s Apple Pie Cheesecake is among its specialty flavors, which are available for $50. Alex Cason CharlotteFive
Charlottean Deneka Sampson has been a gifted baker with a sweet tooth for as long as she can remember, and — lucky for those around her — she loves to share the fruits of her gift.
Although she’s experimented with pies, cakes and other sweet treats, cheesecake has always been her calling — and as her favorite dessert, it’s no surprise.
“It’s so different from cake — it has that nice creamy aspect, but it doesn’t fall apart. You can dress cheesecake up like it’s cake, but there’s still a creamy texture. There’s something about it being in the middle,” Sampson said, explaining that cheesecake is magical to her.
It’s her first pick on any dessert menu at a restaurant, but eventually she began wondering if she could recreate it at home and make it taste just as good.
“I’ve always baked. And people in my family, or friends, or if I brought things to work, were always saying, ‘You should sell this stuff,” Sampson said.
The idea of creating multiple streams of income was also alluring for Sampson, who works for a corporate company in Charlotte.
Deneka Sampson is the owner of The Cheesecake Studio. She is holding an Apple Pie Cheesecake. Alex Cason CharlotteFive
Not just cheesecake — but Apple Pie Cheesecake, Banana Pudding Cheesecake
She began monetizing her talent in June 2018 at a Father’s Day vendor event called Love Desserts CLT. She took a leap of faith and served her most popular creation, the Apple Pie Cheesecake, along with her Banana Pudding Cheesecake. Both were a hit.
“That really shaped me and got me to realize people will really buy this. It helped me to keep going, knowing that I had a product people would buy,” Sampson said.
From that point on, cheesecake became her muse, and The Cheesecake Studio & More was born. She set aside a goal to make unique cheesecakes and has been committed to that purpose ever since.
“My goal is to master cheesecake and put out something that other cheesecake businesses don’t offer to bring a different inspiration,” Sampson said.
Two years later, her website is a catalog of cheesecake goodness. She currently offers traditional flavors like apple, strawberry, cherry, peach, blueberry, berry medley and Oreo. Specialty flavors kick things up a notch with options like Cookie dough, Apple Pie, Funfetti, Fruiti Pebble, Red Velvet, Cinnamon roll, peach cobbler, banana pudding, pumpkin, sweet potato and more – including the choice of a custom creation. Customers who can’t make up their mind can elect to order a “half & half” where you can pick two flavors.
The Cheesecake Studio’s basic flavors come in plain, apple, strawberry, cherry, peach, blueberry, berry medley and Oreo, and can be ordered for $35. Deneka Sampson
According to Sampson, the most popular of the bunch, and the first in flight, is the Apple Pie cheesecake. To see it is to experience the fusing of a lattice apple pie atop the sturdy base of a creamy cheesecake.
When she started toying around with a cinnamon roll flavor, she reached a next level in creativity. Immediately, she knew something special was on the horizon.
“There’s a jazz to it,” Sampson said of the creation. “I could eat it all day, every day.”
For smaller appetites, mini cheesecakes are available. And for the daredevils, the infused cheesecakes are the way to go. Each includes strawberries that have been infused with champagne or a Hennessy Maple Glaze. Those are available in mini cheesecakes and cupcakes, too.
Popular during COVID quarantine
Due to the pandemic, orders have been at their highest for the business owner, who makes deliveries in the Charlotte and surrounding areas.
“I’ve delivered as far as Monroe and have had orders in Fort Mill,” Sampson said. She’s willing to go the extra mile to see customers happy, even agreeing to meet customers for drop-offs if that’s what’s needed.
The recent upswing in business has also meant that she’s grown more of a following, so development and innovation have been at the forefront of her focus.
“I’m working on more [social media] content and developing new cheesecakes,” Sampson said about how she’s growing her business.
The Cookie Butter Cheesecake at The Cheesecake Studio CLT. GeorgiaBelle Photography
Eventually, she’d like to open a storefront where she can showcase her cheesecakes in a gallery-inspired layout. She also envisions it being a hub where she can showcase local artistry.
Until then, she’s committed to discovering new cheesecakes and cementing her individuality in the dessert business.
“I just want to focus on how I can be different in the industry,” Sampson said. “There are so many dessert places – I want us all to win.”
The Cheesecake Studio CLT
Delivery/pickup only
Place your cheesecakes order using a form on the website, email or text (980) 292-5755.
Instagram: @thecheesecakestudioclt
No Grease barbershop expands into SouthPark Mall - Q City Metro
No Grease barbershop expands into SouthPark Mall
Damian Johnson of No Grease, Inc. shared details about the new location, keeping the businesses afloat and collaborating with another well-known brand.
Twin brothers Damian (left) and Jermaine Johnson launched No Grease, Inc. in June 1997. As of January 2021, they manage six barbershops, franchise four locations and operate a barber school. Photo: QCity Metro
By Katrina Louis
January 12, 2021
It’s been nearly 24 years since twin brothers Damian and Jermaine Johnson launched No Grease, Inc., a hair care and personal care business. Since 1997, they’ve opened a string of barbershops across the Carolinas and Georgia.
On Jan. 10, they debuted their latest shop, Knights of the Razor, at SouthPark Mall. Getting there took a lot of patience as they battled the unknowns of the coronavirus pandemic.
QCity Metro spoke with Damian Johnson following the soft launch about the roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship amid Covid-19.
Answers were edited for brevity and clarity.
Talk about how you got to opening day for the SouthPark location.
We’ve been in a relationship with Simon Property (which owns SouthPark Mall, Concord Mills and Charlotte Premium Outlets) for 16 years. When we saw that there was a vacant space in SouthPark Mall, we inquired about it, and we began to negotiate the possibility of coming in. We acquired the space in late October.
[Note: The location formerly housed The Art of Shaving, a high-end retail store for men’s shaving and skin-care accessories.]
What has it been like opening a new location during the pandemic?
It was a lot of patience. Contractors are not necessarily working on the same type of time that they were before Covid. So you’re dealing with a lot of dates not being met. Materials not being delivered.
They’re short on help because it seems like everybody’s doing contract work all over the city, so there’s a shortage of contractors. That was a problem before Covid and it’s an even bigger problem now that we’re in Covid.
We did miss a couple of dates. Actually, this project was supposed to have been completed right after Thanksgiving, the first of December. Unfortunately, we did end up missing the Christmas holiday.
The other shops are named No Grease with a nod to the location. Why a different name for this one?
SouthPark is a really prestigious area and market. We had been holding on to this brand for quite some time. We had it in our back pocket; we just didn’t know when we were going to present it or where we were going to present it. We thought SouthPark Mall would be the perfect place to start this brand.
The owners of No Grease! barbershops opened Knights of the Razor at SouthPark Mall on Jan. 10, 2021. Photo courtesy of Damian Johnson
From your perspective, what was the state of the hair care industry once the pandemic hit? What were you seeing from barbershops and salons, particularly the Black-owned ones, throughout the remainder of the year?
It was just a heavy, heavy hit for a lot of, particularly Black, barbershops and salons. Some of us just weren’t prepared for it. We didn’t have the business structure to even benefit from the resources that were out there. A lot of businesses closed.
By far, this is the biggest blow I’ve seen to the industry in my 30 years.
How was 2020 for No Grease? What were some of your highs and lows?
I’ll start with the lows. The low was that we were all in the face of the unknown. Being misinformed and unaware and the whole fear factor of what the pandemic was bringing into our country. The second low was that we were out of work for a little while. Again, we were in the unknown.
The high began when — because of the way that our business is structured — our barbers were able to get some type of aid during the pandemic. That was a good win for us. And then, since the market opened up, we’ve been able to keep all our doors open. We’ve had maybe one incident when a barber tested positive for Covid, but we’ve had no fatalities or anything like that.
We were able to maintain a very positive cash flow, for the most part, during the pandemic. We weren’t at 100% of what we normally do, but we still did pretty well considering all things.
Pictured left to right: Jermaine Johnson, Charlie Petty and Damian Johnson of No Grease! barbershops. Photo courtesy of Damian Johnson
Did you receive any Paycheck Protection Program loans or other government funding?
Yes, we got the PPP loan and the SBA [Small Business Administration] loans.
Can you talk about that experience and going through the process?
It was about getting all the information. We were prepared, from a paperwork standpoint, to get everything that they asked. So, it went pretty smoothly for us.
We ended up getting enough to get us through that rough patch for those two months [from March through May 2020] when we weren’t working at all. A little later, we were able to apply for the SBA loan that maintained us until we got a consistent cash flow that would get us through the year.
There were moments when we had to sit down with our accountants and make sure that everybody was crossing every “T” and dotting every “I.” But once we understood the process, it went smoothly from there.
[Note: Johnson didn’t recall the loan amounts, but a June 2020 story in Charlotte Business Journal reported that No Grease secured a PPP loan in the second round through Bank of America. The loan totaled close to $100,000, according to CBJ.]
A couple of years ago, No Grease launched franchising opportunities. How has that been impacted over the last several months?
Actually, we were able to open up two additional franchise locations. Because of the pandemic, the retail market has had to loosen up on certain things and our franchisees took full advantage of it. We were able to open up a franchise location in Concord, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina.
Damian Johnson unfurls a banner, which had just arrived, promoting No Grease franchising opportunities. Photo: QCity Metro
[Related: 20 years in, No Grease turns to franchising to accelerate growth]
How many locations do you have now?
We have 10 locations. Six corporate locations and four franchises.
What’s your 2021 outlook? What are you planning?
In 2021, we’re going to try to do, at the very least, five to seven locations — North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We’re looking into the Virginia area.
We’re also working alongside Lucky Spot barbershop. With his [owner Shaun “Lucky” Corbett] growth and our growth, we’re going to try to corner the market.
Both of your brands are two of the more well-known barbering businesses in the Charlotte area. How did the collaboration happen between the two?
Shaun Corbett is a graduate of our barber school, so he’s like a son of No Grease. We’re very proud of what he’s been able to do. It was a natural fit for us to collaborate and work alongside him.
As he’s been expanding into the Walmart market, we’ve been right there by his side, supporting him through that process. We’re going to continue to build on that and try to see how many he can do throughout the country with Walmart locations.
No Grease barbershop expands into SouthPark Mall
Damian Johnson of No Grease, Inc. shared details about the new location, keeping the businesses afloat and collaborating with another well-known brand.
Twin brothers Damian (left) and Jermaine Johnson launched No Grease, Inc. in June 1997. As of January 2021, they manage six barbershops, franchise four locations and operate a barber school. Photo: QCity Metro
By Katrina Louis
January 12, 2021
It’s been nearly 24 years since twin brothers Damian and Jermaine Johnson launched No Grease, Inc., a hair care and personal care business. Since 1997, they’ve opened a string of barbershops across the Carolinas and Georgia.
On Jan. 10, they debuted their latest shop, Knights of the Razor, at SouthPark Mall. Getting there took a lot of patience as they battled the unknowns of the coronavirus pandemic.
QCity Metro spoke with Damian Johnson following the soft launch about the roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship amid Covid-19.
Answers were edited for brevity and clarity.
Talk about how you got to opening day for the SouthPark location.
We’ve been in a relationship with Simon Property (which owns SouthPark Mall, Concord Mills and Charlotte Premium Outlets) for 16 years. When we saw that there was a vacant space in SouthPark Mall, we inquired about it, and we began to negotiate the possibility of coming in. We acquired the space in late October.
[Note: The location formerly housed The Art of Shaving, a high-end retail store for men’s shaving and skin-care accessories.]
What has it been like opening a new location during the pandemic?
It was a lot of patience. Contractors are not necessarily working on the same type of time that they were before Covid. So you’re dealing with a lot of dates not being met. Materials not being delivered.
They’re short on help because it seems like everybody’s doing contract work all over the city, so there’s a shortage of contractors. That was a problem before Covid and it’s an even bigger problem now that we’re in Covid.
We did miss a couple of dates. Actually, this project was supposed to have been completed right after Thanksgiving, the first of December. Unfortunately, we did end up missing the Christmas holiday.
The other shops are named No Grease with a nod to the location. Why a different name for this one?
SouthPark is a really prestigious area and market. We had been holding on to this brand for quite some time. We had it in our back pocket; we just didn’t know when we were going to present it or where we were going to present it. We thought SouthPark Mall would be the perfect place to start this brand.
The owners of No Grease! barbershops opened Knights of the Razor at SouthPark Mall on Jan. 10, 2021. Photo courtesy of Damian Johnson
From your perspective, what was the state of the hair care industry once the pandemic hit? What were you seeing from barbershops and salons, particularly the Black-owned ones, throughout the remainder of the year?
It was just a heavy, heavy hit for a lot of, particularly Black, barbershops and salons. Some of us just weren’t prepared for it. We didn’t have the business structure to even benefit from the resources that were out there. A lot of businesses closed.
By far, this is the biggest blow I’ve seen to the industry in my 30 years.
How was 2020 for No Grease? What were some of your highs and lows?
I’ll start with the lows. The low was that we were all in the face of the unknown. Being misinformed and unaware and the whole fear factor of what the pandemic was bringing into our country. The second low was that we were out of work for a little while. Again, we were in the unknown.
The high began when — because of the way that our business is structured — our barbers were able to get some type of aid during the pandemic. That was a good win for us. And then, since the market opened up, we’ve been able to keep all our doors open. We’ve had maybe one incident when a barber tested positive for Covid, but we’ve had no fatalities or anything like that.
We were able to maintain a very positive cash flow, for the most part, during the pandemic. We weren’t at 100% of what we normally do, but we still did pretty well considering all things.
Pictured left to right: Jermaine Johnson, Charlie Petty and Damian Johnson of No Grease! barbershops. Photo courtesy of Damian Johnson
Did you receive any Paycheck Protection Program loans or other government funding?
Yes, we got the PPP loan and the SBA [Small Business Administration] loans.
Can you talk about that experience and going through the process?
It was about getting all the information. We were prepared, from a paperwork standpoint, to get everything that they asked. So, it went pretty smoothly for us.
We ended up getting enough to get us through that rough patch for those two months [from March through May 2020] when we weren’t working at all. A little later, we were able to apply for the SBA loan that maintained us until we got a consistent cash flow that would get us through the year.
There were moments when we had to sit down with our accountants and make sure that everybody was crossing every “T” and dotting every “I.” But once we understood the process, it went smoothly from there.
[Note: Johnson didn’t recall the loan amounts, but a June 2020 story in Charlotte Business Journal reported that No Grease secured a PPP loan in the second round through Bank of America. The loan totaled close to $100,000, according to CBJ.]
A couple of years ago, No Grease launched franchising opportunities. How has that been impacted over the last several months?
Actually, we were able to open up two additional franchise locations. Because of the pandemic, the retail market has had to loosen up on certain things and our franchisees took full advantage of it. We were able to open up a franchise location in Concord, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina.
Damian Johnson unfurls a banner, which had just arrived, promoting No Grease franchising opportunities. Photo: QCity Metro
[Related: 20 years in, No Grease turns to franchising to accelerate growth]
How many locations do you have now?
We have 10 locations. Six corporate locations and four franchises.
What’s your 2021 outlook? What are you planning?
In 2021, we’re going to try to do, at the very least, five to seven locations — North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We’re looking into the Virginia area.
We’re also working alongside Lucky Spot barbershop. With his [owner Shaun “Lucky” Corbett] growth and our growth, we’re going to try to corner the market.
Both of your brands are two of the more well-known barbering businesses in the Charlotte area. How did the collaboration happen between the two?
Shaun Corbett is a graduate of our barber school, so he’s like a son of No Grease. We’re very proud of what he’s been able to do. It was a natural fit for us to collaborate and work alongside him.
As he’s been expanding into the Walmart market, we’ve been right there by his side, supporting him through that process. We’re going to continue to build on that and try to see how many he can do throughout the country with Walmart locations.
NapKingCole
Pro
No Grease barbershop expands into SouthPark Mall - Q City Metro
No Grease barbershop expands into SouthPark Mall
Damian Johnson of No Grease, Inc. shared details about the new location, keeping the businesses afloat and collaborating with another well-known brand.
Twin brothers Damian (left) and Jermaine Johnson launched No Grease, Inc. in June 1997. As of January 2021, they manage six barbershops, franchise four locations and operate a barber school. Photo: QCity Metro
By Katrina Louis
January 12, 2021
It’s been nearly 24 years since twin brothers Damian and Jermaine Johnson launched No Grease, Inc., a hair care and personal care business. Since 1997, they’ve opened a string of barbershops across the Carolinas and Georgia.
On Jan. 10, they debuted their latest shop, Knights of the Razor, at SouthPark Mall. Getting there took a lot of patience as they battled the unknowns of the coronavirus pandemic.
QCity Metro spoke with Damian Johnson following the soft launch about the roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship amid Covid-19.
Answers were edited for brevity and clarity.
Talk about how you got to opening day for the SouthPark location.
We’ve been in a relationship with Simon Property (which owns SouthPark Mall, Concord Mills and Charlotte Premium Outlets) for 16 years. When we saw that there was a vacant space in SouthPark Mall, we inquired about it, and we began to negotiate the possibility of coming in. We acquired the space in late October.
[Note: The location formerly housed The Art of Shaving, a high-end retail store for men’s shaving and skin-care accessories.]
What has it been like opening a new location during the pandemic?
It was a lot of patience. Contractors are not necessarily working on the same type of time that they were before Covid. So you’re dealing with a lot of dates not being met. Materials not being delivered.
They’re short on help because it seems like everybody’s doing contract work all over the city, so there’s a shortage of contractors. That was a problem before Covid and it’s an even bigger problem now that we’re in Covid.
We did miss a couple of dates. Actually, this project was supposed to have been completed right after Thanksgiving, the first of December. Unfortunately, we did end up missing the Christmas holiday.
The other shops are named No Grease with a nod to the location. Why a different name for this one?
SouthPark is a really prestigious area and market. We had been holding on to this brand for quite some time. We had it in our back pocket; we just didn’t know when we were going to present it or where we were going to present it. We thought SouthPark Mall would be the perfect place to start this brand.
The owners of No Grease! barbershops opened Knights of the Razor at SouthPark Mall on Jan. 10, 2021. Photo courtesy of Damian Johnson
From your perspective, what was the state of the hair care industry once the pandemic hit? What were you seeing from barbershops and salons, particularly the Black-owned ones, throughout the remainder of the year?
It was just a heavy, heavy hit for a lot of, particularly Black, barbershops and salons. Some of us just weren’t prepared for it. We didn’t have the business structure to even benefit from the resources that were out there. A lot of businesses closed.
By far, this is the biggest blow I’ve seen to the industry in my 30 years.
How was 2020 for No Grease? What were some of your highs and lows?
I’ll start with the lows. The low was that we were all in the face of the unknown. Being misinformed and unaware and the whole fear factor of what the pandemic was bringing into our country. The second low was that we were out of work for a little while. Again, we were in the unknown.
The high began when — because of the way that our business is structured — our barbers were able to get some type of aid during the pandemic. That was a good win for us. And then, since the market opened up, we’ve been able to keep all our doors open. We’ve had maybe one incident when a barber tested positive for Covid, but we’ve had no fatalities or anything like that.
We were able to maintain a very positive cash flow, for the most part, during the pandemic. We weren’t at 100% of what we normally do, but we still did pretty well considering all things.
Pictured left to right: Jermaine Johnson, Charlie Petty and Damian Johnson of No Grease! barbershops. Photo courtesy of Damian Johnson
Did you receive any Paycheck Protection Program loans or other government funding?
Yes, we got the PPP loan and the SBA [Small Business Administration] loans.
Can you talk about that experience and going through the process?
It was about getting all the information. We were prepared, from a paperwork standpoint, to get everything that they asked. So, it went pretty smoothly for us.
We ended up getting enough to get us through that rough patch for those two months [from March through May 2020] when we weren’t working at all. A little later, we were able to apply for the SBA loan that maintained us until we got a consistent cash flow that would get us through the year.
There were moments when we had to sit down with our accountants and make sure that everybody was crossing every “T” and dotting every “I.” But once we understood the process, it went smoothly from there.
[Note: Johnson didn’t recall the loan amounts, but a June 2020 story in Charlotte Business Journal reported that No Grease secured a PPP loan in the second round through Bank of America. The loan totaled close to $100,000, according to CBJ.]
A couple of years ago, No Grease launched franchising opportunities. How has that been impacted over the last several months?
Actually, we were able to open up two additional franchise locations. Because of the pandemic, the retail market has had to loosen up on certain things and our franchisees took full advantage of it. We were able to open up a franchise location in Concord, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina.
Damian Johnson unfurls a banner, which had just arrived, promoting No Grease franchising opportunities. Photo: QCity Metro
[Related: 20 years in, No Grease turns to franchising to accelerate growth]
How many locations do you have now?
We have 10 locations. Six corporate locations and four franchises.
What’s your 2021 outlook? What are you planning?
In 2021, we’re going to try to do, at the very least, five to seven locations — North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We’re looking into the Virginia area.
We’re also working alongside Lucky Spot barbershop. With his [owner Shaun “Lucky” Corbett] growth and our growth, we’re going to try to corner the market.
Both of your brands are two of the more well-known barbering businesses in the Charlotte area. How did the collaboration happen between the two?
Shaun Corbett is a graduate of our barber school, so he’s like a son of No Grease. We’re very proud of what he’s been able to do. It was a natural fit for us to collaborate and work alongside him.
As he’s been expanding into the Walmart market, we’ve been right there by his side, supporting him through that process. We’re going to continue to build on that and try to see how many he can do throughout the country with Walmart locations.
Proud of those guys. I used to go to the Uptown location by the Hornets arena when I had hair lol. On a busy Saturday 1 of the twins stopped by & swept the floor with no problem. I respect the hell out of them.
Hoshi_Toshi
Superstar
How y’all feel about Kannapolis and Concord?
Gotta make a move this year. Or would Raleigh be a better choice?
Gotta make a move this year. Or would Raleigh be a better choice?
murksiderock
Superstar
No Grease barbershop expands into SouthPark Mall - Q City Metro
No Grease barbershop expands into SouthPark Mall
Damian Johnson of No Grease, Inc. shared details about the new location, keeping the businesses afloat and collaborating with another well-known brand.
Twin brothers Damian (left) and Jermaine Johnson launched No Grease, Inc. in June 1997. As of January 2021, they manage six barbershops, franchise four locations and operate a barber school. Photo: QCity Metro
By Katrina Louis
January 12, 2021
It’s been nearly 24 years since twin brothers Damian and Jermaine Johnson launched No Grease, Inc., a hair care and personal care business. Since 1997, they’ve opened a string of barbershops across the Carolinas and Georgia.
On Jan. 10, they debuted their latest shop, Knights of the Razor, at SouthPark Mall. Getting there took a lot of patience as they battled the unknowns of the coronavirus pandemic.
QCity Metro spoke with Damian Johnson following the soft launch about the roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship amid Covid-19.
Answers were edited for brevity and clarity.
Talk about how you got to opening day for the SouthPark location.
We’ve been in a relationship with Simon Property (which owns SouthPark Mall, Concord Mills and Charlotte Premium Outlets) for 16 years. When we saw that there was a vacant space in SouthPark Mall, we inquired about it, and we began to negotiate the possibility of coming in. We acquired the space in late October.
[Note: The location formerly housed The Art of Shaving, a high-end retail store for men’s shaving and skin-care accessories.]
What has it been like opening a new location during the pandemic?
It was a lot of patience. Contractors are not necessarily working on the same type of time that they were before Covid. So you’re dealing with a lot of dates not being met. Materials not being delivered.
They’re short on help because it seems like everybody’s doing contract work all over the city, so there’s a shortage of contractors. That was a problem before Covid and it’s an even bigger problem now that we’re in Covid.
We did miss a couple of dates. Actually, this project was supposed to have been completed right after Thanksgiving, the first of December. Unfortunately, we did end up missing the Christmas holiday.
The other shops are named No Grease with a nod to the location. Why a different name for this one?
SouthPark is a really prestigious area and market. We had been holding on to this brand for quite some time. We had it in our back pocket; we just didn’t know when we were going to present it or where we were going to present it. We thought SouthPark Mall would be the perfect place to start this brand.
The owners of No Grease! barbershops opened Knights of the Razor at SouthPark Mall on Jan. 10, 2021. Photo courtesy of Damian Johnson
From your perspective, what was the state of the hair care industry once the pandemic hit? What were you seeing from barbershops and salons, particularly the Black-owned ones, throughout the remainder of the year?
It was just a heavy, heavy hit for a lot of, particularly Black, barbershops and salons. Some of us just weren’t prepared for it. We didn’t have the business structure to even benefit from the resources that were out there. A lot of businesses closed.
By far, this is the biggest blow I’ve seen to the industry in my 30 years.
How was 2020 for No Grease? What were some of your highs and lows?
I’ll start with the lows. The low was that we were all in the face of the unknown. Being misinformed and unaware and the whole fear factor of what the pandemic was bringing into our country. The second low was that we were out of work for a little while. Again, we were in the unknown.
The high began when — because of the way that our business is structured — our barbers were able to get some type of aid during the pandemic. That was a good win for us. And then, since the market opened up, we’ve been able to keep all our doors open. We’ve had maybe one incident when a barber tested positive for Covid, but we’ve had no fatalities or anything like that.
We were able to maintain a very positive cash flow, for the most part, during the pandemic. We weren’t at 100% of what we normally do, but we still did pretty well considering all things.
Pictured left to right: Jermaine Johnson, Charlie Petty and Damian Johnson of No Grease! barbershops. Photo courtesy of Damian Johnson
Did you receive any Paycheck Protection Program loans or other government funding?
Yes, we got the PPP loan and the SBA [Small Business Administration] loans.
Can you talk about that experience and going through the process?
It was about getting all the information. We were prepared, from a paperwork standpoint, to get everything that they asked. So, it went pretty smoothly for us.
We ended up getting enough to get us through that rough patch for those two months [from March through May 2020] when we weren’t working at all. A little later, we were able to apply for the SBA loan that maintained us until we got a consistent cash flow that would get us through the year.
There were moments when we had to sit down with our accountants and make sure that everybody was crossing every “T” and dotting every “I.” But once we understood the process, it went smoothly from there.
[Note: Johnson didn’t recall the loan amounts, but a June 2020 story in Charlotte Business Journal reported that No Grease secured a PPP loan in the second round through Bank of America. The loan totaled close to $100,000, according to CBJ.]
A couple of years ago, No Grease launched franchising opportunities. How has that been impacted over the last several months?
Actually, we were able to open up two additional franchise locations. Because of the pandemic, the retail market has had to loosen up on certain things and our franchisees took full advantage of it. We were able to open up a franchise location in Concord, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina.
Damian Johnson unfurls a banner, which had just arrived, promoting No Grease franchising opportunities. Photo: QCity Metro
[Related: 20 years in, No Grease turns to franchising to accelerate growth]
How many locations do you have now?
We have 10 locations. Six corporate locations and four franchises.
What’s your 2021 outlook? What are you planning?
In 2021, we’re going to try to do, at the very least, five to seven locations — North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We’re looking into the Virginia area.
We’re also working alongside Lucky Spot barbershop. With his [owner Shaun “Lucky” Corbett] growth and our growth, we’re going to try to corner the market.
Both of your brands are two of the more well-known barbering businesses in the Charlotte area. How did the collaboration happen between the two?
Shaun Corbett is a graduate of our barber school, so he’s like a son of No Grease. We’re very proud of what he’s been able to do. It was a natural fit for us to collaborate and work alongside him.
As he’s been expanding into the Walmart market, we’ve been right there by his side, supporting him through that process. We’re going to continue to build on that and try to see how many he can do throughout the country with Walmart locations.
Gotdamn this is inspirational...
How y’all feel about Kannapolis and Concord?
You gotta share more of what you're looking for in a home, and where are you coming from?
Hoshi_Toshi
Superstar
Starter home under 230k, don’t have to be super close to the city 30 minutes to an hour away is cool.
suburbs/ subdivision. Houses not too close together. Coming from Tennessee
murksiderock
Superstar
Cost of living is virtually the same between Charlotte and Raleigh. Charlotte is the cooler city between the two and I'd rather be 30 minutes from Clt than 30 minutes from Rgh...
Concord isn't a bad look, its a better suburb to live in than anywhere around Rgh...
Have you been to any of these cities to visit?
Hoshi_Toshi
Superstar
appreciate the answer. I’ve been to Raleigh but not enough to look around. I was kinda set on Charlotte anyway
Concord is probably a better place to move than Kannapolis
Report: Black homeowners in Charlotte face nearly $40K home-value gap vs area average - Q City Metro
Report: Black homeowners in Charlotte face nearly $40K home-value gap vs area average
Zillow analysis reveals average values for Black- and Hispanic-owned homes in top 50 metro areas.
Photo via Shutterstock
By Katrina Louis
January 13, 2021
Homes owned by Black and Brown families in Charlotte are valued, on average, 15.6% below the value of the city’s average home, according to a recent analysis.
Zillow, the real estate marketplace company, placed the average value of a home owned by a Black family in Charlotte at $218,607, versus $259,012 for the area’s average. Hispanic homeowners fare better, with an average home value of $235,254.
Meanwhile, the Zillow analysis found that homes owned by White families in Charlotte are worth roughly 4% more than the city’s average home.
The Zillow analysis looked at overall home values by race in 50 of the nation’s largest metro areas. Nationally, homes owned by Black and Hispanic households are worth 16.2% and 10.2% less, respectively, than the average U.S. home. Those owned by non-Hispanic White and Asian families have average values that are 2.9% and 3.7% higher than the average.
Zillow’s home value index estimates a typical U.S. home is valued at $262,604.
Despite the disparities among racial groups, the report also found that the gap is shrinking as home values return to levels seen in 2007, before the Great Recession began.
Why it matters: Homeownership remains the single-biggest component of household wealth in America. But research shows that homes in predominantly Black neighborhoods are valued at roughly half the price of homes in neighborhoods without Black residents, putting Black homeowners at a disadvantage when it comes to building equity and accumulating wealth.
Zillow economist Treh Manhertz says it has taken nearly a decade for the home-value gap to return to levels prior to the Great Recession — when the gap between Black and White homeowners was roughly 15%.
“With Black and Brown communities and jobs hit disproportionately hard in the pandemic, there has been reason to worry another dip may be on the horizon that could slow or stop the progress,” Manhertz said in a statement. “However, this is not the case, as the same factors that widened the gap in the Great Recession are not surfacing this time.”
Manhertz points to low mortgage rates, extended forbearance programs and rising home prices as factors that are preventing the racial gap from widening this year.
Faith Triggs, a realtor with Keller Williams Realty – SouthPark, says the outlook for Black families will depend also on actions taken by President-elect Joe Biden’s administration to mitigate the pandemic’s effect on Black homeowners.
Triggs, a member of Charlotte Crown Black Real Estate Association, agrees that forbearance programs, which delay foreclosures for delinquent mortgage holders, have been helpful, but she’s also concerned that the programs may be holding back a later wave.
“It could be a tsunami of financial hardship [coming] for African American families because we are always hit harder first,” she said.
Worth noting: Realtor.com ranked Charlotte as having the No. 3 housing market in 2021.
See below for select cities from Zillow’s analysis. Our list is ranked in order of metro areas with the largest African American population, according to 2017 census estimates.
United States
Zillow Home Value Index: $262,604
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $219,931
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -16.2%
New York/Newark, NY/NJ
Zillow Home Value Index: $505,569
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $444,523
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -12.1%
Atlanta, GA
Zillow Home Value Index: $255,109
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $216,927
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -15%
Chicago, IL
Zillow Home Value Index: $255,532
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $159,962
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -37.4%
Washington, DC
Zillow Home Value Index: $459,656
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $430,736
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -6.3%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
Zillow Home Value Index: $312,574
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $258,932
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -17.2%
Philadelphia, PA
Zillow Home Value Index: $269,695
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $207,440
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -23.1%
Houston, TX
Zillow Home Value Index: $229,613
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $190,589
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -17%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Zillow Home Value Index: $271,831
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $221,932
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -18.4%
Detroit, MI
Zillow Home Value Index: $195,270
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $106,413
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -45.5%
Los Angeles, CA
Zillow Home Value Index: $726,379
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $587,679
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -19.1%
Baltimore, MD
Zillow Home Value Index: $311,464
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $269,153
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -13.6%
Memphis, TN
Zillow Home Value Index: $167,904
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $124,538
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -25.8%
Charlotte, NC
Zillow Home Value Index: $259,012
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $218,607
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -15.6%
Virginia Beach, VA
Zillow Home Value Index: $259,731
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $245,226
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -5.6%
St. Louis, MO
Zillow Home Value Index: $190,720
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $112,529
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -41%
New Orleans, LA
Zillow Home Value Index: $217,016
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $179,157
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -17.4%
Cleveland, OH
Zillow Home Value Index: $168,994
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $101,824
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -39.7%
Orlando, FL
Zillow Home Value Index: $268,806
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $242,226
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -9.9%
Boston, MA
Zillow Home Value Index: $525,223
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $443,914
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -15.5%
Richmond, VA
Zillow Home Value Index: $261,415
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $234,525
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -10.3%
Report: Black homeowners in Charlotte face nearly $40K home-value gap vs area average
Zillow analysis reveals average values for Black- and Hispanic-owned homes in top 50 metro areas.
Photo via Shutterstock
By Katrina Louis
January 13, 2021
Homes owned by Black and Brown families in Charlotte are valued, on average, 15.6% below the value of the city’s average home, according to a recent analysis.
Zillow, the real estate marketplace company, placed the average value of a home owned by a Black family in Charlotte at $218,607, versus $259,012 for the area’s average. Hispanic homeowners fare better, with an average home value of $235,254.
Meanwhile, the Zillow analysis found that homes owned by White families in Charlotte are worth roughly 4% more than the city’s average home.
The Zillow analysis looked at overall home values by race in 50 of the nation’s largest metro areas. Nationally, homes owned by Black and Hispanic households are worth 16.2% and 10.2% less, respectively, than the average U.S. home. Those owned by non-Hispanic White and Asian families have average values that are 2.9% and 3.7% higher than the average.
Zillow’s home value index estimates a typical U.S. home is valued at $262,604.
Despite the disparities among racial groups, the report also found that the gap is shrinking as home values return to levels seen in 2007, before the Great Recession began.
Why it matters: Homeownership remains the single-biggest component of household wealth in America. But research shows that homes in predominantly Black neighborhoods are valued at roughly half the price of homes in neighborhoods without Black residents, putting Black homeowners at a disadvantage when it comes to building equity and accumulating wealth.
Zillow economist Treh Manhertz says it has taken nearly a decade for the home-value gap to return to levels prior to the Great Recession — when the gap between Black and White homeowners was roughly 15%.
“With Black and Brown communities and jobs hit disproportionately hard in the pandemic, there has been reason to worry another dip may be on the horizon that could slow or stop the progress,” Manhertz said in a statement. “However, this is not the case, as the same factors that widened the gap in the Great Recession are not surfacing this time.”
Manhertz points to low mortgage rates, extended forbearance programs and rising home prices as factors that are preventing the racial gap from widening this year.
Faith Triggs, a realtor with Keller Williams Realty – SouthPark, says the outlook for Black families will depend also on actions taken by President-elect Joe Biden’s administration to mitigate the pandemic’s effect on Black homeowners.
Triggs, a member of Charlotte Crown Black Real Estate Association, agrees that forbearance programs, which delay foreclosures for delinquent mortgage holders, have been helpful, but she’s also concerned that the programs may be holding back a later wave.
“It could be a tsunami of financial hardship [coming] for African American families because we are always hit harder first,” she said.
Worth noting: Realtor.com ranked Charlotte as having the No. 3 housing market in 2021.
See below for select cities from Zillow’s analysis. Our list is ranked in order of metro areas with the largest African American population, according to 2017 census estimates.
United States
Zillow Home Value Index: $262,604
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $219,931
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -16.2%
New York/Newark, NY/NJ
Zillow Home Value Index: $505,569
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $444,523
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -12.1%
Atlanta, GA
Zillow Home Value Index: $255,109
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $216,927
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -15%
Chicago, IL
Zillow Home Value Index: $255,532
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $159,962
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -37.4%
Washington, DC
Zillow Home Value Index: $459,656
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $430,736
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -6.3%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
Zillow Home Value Index: $312,574
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $258,932
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -17.2%
Philadelphia, PA
Zillow Home Value Index: $269,695
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $207,440
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -23.1%
Houston, TX
Zillow Home Value Index: $229,613
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $190,589
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -17%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Zillow Home Value Index: $271,831
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $221,932
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -18.4%
Detroit, MI
Zillow Home Value Index: $195,270
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $106,413
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -45.5%
Los Angeles, CA
Zillow Home Value Index: $726,379
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $587,679
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -19.1%
Baltimore, MD
Zillow Home Value Index: $311,464
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $269,153
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -13.6%
Memphis, TN
Zillow Home Value Index: $167,904
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $124,538
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -25.8%
Charlotte, NC
Zillow Home Value Index: $259,012
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $218,607
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -15.6%
Virginia Beach, VA
Zillow Home Value Index: $259,731
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $245,226
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -5.6%
St. Louis, MO
Zillow Home Value Index: $190,720
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $112,529
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -41%
New Orleans, LA
Zillow Home Value Index: $217,016
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $179,157
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -17.4%
Cleveland, OH
Zillow Home Value Index: $168,994
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $101,824
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -39.7%
Orlando, FL
Zillow Home Value Index: $268,806
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $242,226
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -9.9%
Boston, MA
Zillow Home Value Index: $525,223
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $443,914
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -15.5%
Richmond, VA
Zillow Home Value Index: $261,415
ZHVI for Black-Owned Homes: $234,525
Home Value Gap for Black-Owned Homes: -10.3%
UserNameless
Veteran
How y’all feel about Kannapolis and Concord?
Alotta variables homie ... depending on what you’re bringing to the table and what you’re trying to do .
Mindfield333
Superstar
He went to DC?Is Jesus Saves a Trump supporter?
Hoshi_Toshi
Superstar
A few months ago I had an interview for a cyber security position in Raleigh but I didn't get it so I kinda paused my search and decided to research the area more. I think i'll hold off on moving until I get my next 2 certifications.