Hold on to your hair brushes and color conditioners beauty mavens, Francie Willis has big plans for Urban Retreat. With new investor support, Willis' dream of improving and expanding the reach of the iconic salon is on its way to becoming reality. Count on a new location for the River Oaks shop, a new salon in Sugar Land and expansion of Urban Retreat West.
"We're trying to decide between two locations in the River Oaks area," she said today. "We've been working on finding a new location for about six months." That decision should be made within the next few weeks. Official announcement to follow.
Don't expect to receive your change-of-address cards until well into 2011. The current San Felipe shop, which regularly beautifies some of the city's biggest names, will remain in business until a new, state-of-the-art salon is completed. At that time, the door flies open for development of the San Felipe property that she and Mike Willis own together. No plans as yet for that property.
Rumors of Urban Retreat being sold and townhouses going up are incorrect, Francie said. A luxury townhouse development is, however, going in next door, between Revere and Argonne streets.
Sante's Garden Room is decorated with two olive trees.
Photo by Chris Furia