(Image: Red Chair Salon)

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Fifteen years on 15th Ave E makes a pretty nice headline. With the business tumult and redevelopment changes underway on the street that used to be known as the quiet side of Capitol Hill, a 15-year run is worth celebrating. From its humble beginning as a tiny, punk-rock themed beauty joint in 2009, Red Chair Salon is marking its 15th anniversary on Capitol Hill under owners Amy and Howie Sennet.

“I really can’t believe that we’ve made it 15 years. Honestly. We need to knock on everything. With as much love and dedication as we have put in it and our staff… Everyone’s had a hand in our success,” Howie Sennet said.

The two owners remain highly involved with Howie running the back end of the business, while Amy, with her background with hair styling for 25 years, works with other hairdressers in the salon.

“I thought the idea of us expanding bigger was never gonna happen. And we just got busier and had great stylists… I never imagined what we would become,” Amy said.

(Image: Red Chair Salon)

Red Chair’s journey to their 15th year anniversary was not all smooth. Like many businesses throughout Seattle, Red Chair faced difficulties navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It hit the industry really hard… masks, face shields, glasses. We couldn’t even do our jobs,” Amy said.

Red Chair was born out of another crisis. After the 2008 financial meltdown, they decided to open a 800-square-foot salon on 15th Ave E. The first day of business was March 18th, 2009. The salon has expanded into a bigger space and even launched its own product line.

What is happening now on 15th is not a crisis. Sure, the neighborhood’s longest-running restaurant shut down in a property deal now stuck in real estate limbo. And the street’s big QFC grocery store has been shuttered for years as the block moves forward to redevelopment. But that is change, not a crisis. Capitol Hill developer Hunters Capital is preparing plans to transform the old QFC block into new apartments, businesses and plaza space. When the work up the street where the Hunters Capital mixed-use project replacing the old Hilltop Service Station is complete later this year, the clock will start ticking for the QFC block project to start. Meanwhile, a Red Chair competitor and beauty community friend is also embracing the changes as the street’s Rudy’s Barbershop has a plan to move into the new development later this year.

At Red Chair, there is some nostalgia and sadness over the changes on its street.

“It completely broke our hearts to see our neighbors have to close up, and having empty storefronts because 15th [Ave.] is really unique and really special, and we were sort of like ‘oh, no. Is that going to happen to us?’” Amy Sennet said.

And it is true. Sometimes, The Wandering Goose becomes a Rubinstein Bagels.

(Image: Red Chair Salon)

Challenges have also helped bring perspective over the years.

As the Rudy’s chain wrestled with financial difficulties and was wrestled back under control of its founders, Red Chair found an opportunity to build its industry friendship.

“We definitely got closer as a salon family… We we’re all we had. And, you know, people think sometimes that it’s just a haircut or just a color. But I mean, our clients are our family. We couldn’t still be in business if it wasn’t for them,” Amy Sennet said.

Another big difference between 2009 and 2024 are costs. Rising rents and supply costs have meant prices have also needed to climb.

“The inflation is insane. We have really hesitated to never increase our prices because you know we have low income clients and we try to accommodate everybody. But the reality is that we have to stay in business,” Howie Sennet said.

In recent months, Red Chair has also experienced two break ins. Customers started a fundraiser for them to help Red Chair get their door replaced.

Through those city problems, Red Chair Salon remains faithful in its commitment to Capitol Hill and is still having fun in the beauty business. They’re hoping for at least 15 more years on 15th Ave E.

Red Chair Salon is located at 324 15th Ave E. Learn more at redchairrocks.com.

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