News

Entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs? New Rise Car Park business is the place for that

Carrie Rengers, Wichita Eagle

6/10/2024


Lisa Miranowski, right, and Clint Jackson plan to capitalize on a growing trend and a growing part of Wichita by opening the Studios on Market at the Fidelity Bank Rise Car Park. TRAVIS HEYING The Wichita Eagle


Lots of business owners are trying to capitalize on a growing downtown Wichita by moving there, but you might say Lisa Miranowski and Clint Jackson are doubling down on their investment in the area.

The married couple already own Curls Gone Wild, a hair salon in Old Town Square, and now they’re opening the new Studios on Market at Fidelity Bank’s Rise Car Park on Market between Waterman and English.

“Downtown is growing like crazy, and we want to be there for all of it,” Miranowski said.

The Studios are part of an industry trend to create spaces for beauty professionals, such as hair stylists and aestheticians, to have more than a booth rental but not to have to go so far as to open a full salon or business.

“It’s a natural transition from commission to running your own business,” Jackson said. “It’s great to have.”

 


Lisa Miranowski and Clint Jackson are opening the new Studios on Market at Fidelity Bank’s Rise Car Park on Market between Waterman and English. Courtesy illustration


He said there’s only a small percentage of stylists who want to have a full salon of their own. A sole proprietorship is what he and Miranowski are offering.

“We’ve lost stylists to the concept before,” Jackson said.

He said the Studios give “a lot of flexibility and control of owning your own beauty business at a manageable scale.”

The 3,800-square-foot space will have 17 studios, two of which will be double occupancy. If there is a demand for more shared space, that’s possible as well.

Jackson said the industry average seems to be about 100 square feet of space per studio, but the Studios will have an average of 125 square feet, and they’ll be customizable for all kinds of services.

There also will be marketing efforts for all tenants and educational support, which is particularly important to Miranowski, who taught at Paul Mitchell the School for five years.

“It is very overwhelming,” she said of starting in the business.

“These stylists have so much they need to focus on, and their only focus needs to be the client,” she said. “We’re going to take care of everything else.”

 


There will be a lot of natural light within the new studio spaces at the Studios on Market, many of which will be angled toward large walls of glass to the outside. Courtesy illustration


Melissa Knoeber, the bank’s director of culture and talent, said the passion that Miranowski and Jackson have for the industry and their people is what makes them such a great fit at Rise.

“Our dedication to the entrepreneurs in this business is important,” Knoeber said. “They have that dedication right back to giving it to the entrepreneurs they’re investing in.”

The Studios will be north of 2 Beatz Boutique on the east side of Rise on Market.

The target opening is December.

The Studios will be $275 to $325 per week with an annual contract.

Shelden Architecture designed the space.

“We wanted these spaces to feel . . . as open as possible within a private setting,” Miranowski said.

“These are creative professionals so we wanted a really nice design for all of them as well,” she said. “Shelden just nailed it.”

There will be a lot of natural light within the suites, many of which will be angled toward large walls of glass to the outside.

Jackson said a lot of suites at these kinds of businesses end up looking like medical offices, but by sacrificing a bit of space, he said they were able to avoid that.

“It really sets it apart.”

Jackson said there will be independent temperature controls for each suite, too.

He spent a dozen years in in the aircraft industry in management operations. He and Miranowski saw a tremendous opportunity for growth, particularly downtown, so now he’s focusing on systems for the Studios.

With the new Wichita Biomedical Campus coming downtown, Jackson said, “There’s going to be no shortage of people around.”

 


In addition to studio spaces at the new Studios on Market, there will be common spaces as well, including a seating area for guests and kitchenette and laundry areas for people renting the spaces. Courtesy illustration


Fidelity senior vice president and marketing director Katie Grover said there is 2,600 square feet left to lease at Rise.

“It’s just an exciting time to be downtown,” she said, particularly “what we’re on the verge of.”

Grover and Knoeber said Fidelity wanted to be picky to get the right tenant to join Rise’s mix, which also includes Grow and Lotte in addition to 2 Beatz, and Knoeber said an entrepreneurial couple who are looking to foster other entrepreneurs are the perfect it.

“How could we pass up on that opportunity?”