CRYSTAL LAKE – Come summertime, a vacant storefront in downtown Crystal Lake is expected to become home to a new coffee shop and an existing salon looking to expand.
Next to Georgio’s Chicago Pizzeria and Pub sits 77 Woodstock St., which housed Carl’s Furniture several years ago before it was Bauer’s Garage.
Last week, the Crystal Lake City Council approved a special use permit for Blush Salon, currently at 53 Brink St., to become a full-service salon and spa in about 4,000 square feet of the building.
Co-owner of Blush Christina Murar said she and co-owner Cindy Hitzeman, both of Algonquin, have been wanting to expand for a couple years. The relocation will be a big step up from their current 900-square-foot space.
It also will mean a step up in services. In addition to haircuts, coloring and facial waxing, the expanded Blush will have a brow bar, makeup and aesthetic services, spray tanning, massages, and a built-in pedicure lounge, Murar said.
“We knew that was kind of the next step, but it had to be the right location and we knew it had to be in downtown Crystal Lake,” Murar said. “It’s something we’ve kind of kept our eye on.”
They approached Kevin Kincaid about buying the property at 77 Woodstock St. and the two have talked with Kincaid’s wife, Dawn, who intends to open a coffee and wine bar in the same building.
“I have been in discussion with Blush about how our businesses can complement each other,” Dawn Kincaid said, adding the coffee shop still is in its planning stages and additional permitting through the city will be required once the business plan is more concrete.
Kevin Kincaid expects to close on the property in the next couple days. A resident of Lake in the Hills, he said he owns a number of commercial and industrial properties throughout the area, but this would be his first in Crystal Lake. He also owns Prime Contracting Inc. in Lake in the Hills.
“It’s got a great historic presence in Crystal Lake,” Kevin Kincaid said of the building, adding he planned on maintaining the outside aesthetics.
His own contracting company will be handling the renovations, which he said will begin right after the sale is finalized. The expanded salon is expected to open by June 1 and the coffee shop by July 1.