Lashonda McGowan left her career in the healthcare industry to follow her dreams of owning her own business selling hair care supplies locally for ethnic customers in Cottage Grove and the …
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Lashonda McGowan left her career in the healthcare industry to follow her dreams of owning her own business selling hair care supplies locally for ethnic customers in Cottage Grove and the surrounding communities. McGowan joins the growing list of businesses owned by African American women etching their names in history during women’s history month. Ebony Queen Beauty Supply is located just inside the front door of the Salons by JC building at 7240 East Point Douglas Road.
McGowan’s space is small but mighty and hard to miss. Salons by JC is a newer business model that is catching on in the beauty service market. The building is like a mall inside a mall, where entrepreneurs utilize a shared reception area, lounge area, bathrooms and other amenities that may not be unique to their business while having their own unique shop with their own hours. The building is basically apartments for businesses and McGowan has prime real estate. When you walk into the Salons by JC building, you are greeted by the concierge at her desk and Ebony Queen Beauty Supply is just to the left of the receptionist.
The shop has a smaller footprint, but the space is perfect for a budding businesswoman.
“I have got a little bit of everything. You just gotta come down and see it. I have shampoos, conditioners, oils, hair grease, mousse. Hair sheen products, and then I also have accessories such as barrettes, bows, bonnets, rubber bands and a few things for men as well. I have beard oils, pomade, durags, sponge brushes. I also have a few other items here, such as rings, lashes, bracelets and earrings,” explained McGowan.
The shop is welcoming, well-decorated and has a nice, warm feel to it. McGowan is engaging, kind and wonderful to visit with. During the interview, one of the things we talked about was the differences between hair care for people with different ethnicities, something that is truly fascinating.
“The difference is some African Americans require more time, effort, and use various types of oils. There are different ingredients that make our hair healthy, without causing damage and breakage. We need more oil where the Caucasian community needs less oil. We might wash our hair once a week, where some Caucasians wash their hair daily. That is a big difference for maintaining and keeping it healthy,” she explained.
She opened for business on March 7, 2023, and so far, things have been a little slow, even with the support of the other businesses in the building.
“They have been very positive and supportive of me,” explained McGowan. “Some of them have even brought their customers in here.”
The space is a unique one for the greater Cottage Grove, Woodbury and even Hastings area because the closest spot to go for this type of specific hair care is in St. Paul and even those options are limited.
“Ebony Queen Beauty Supply is unique because there is no other beauty supply store for us out here. We have Sally's but when you go into Sally's there's really not a whole lot of ethnic products there. They're there but it's not enough for our needs and there it is at a higher price. So, my prices are more competitive compared to them and I am conveniently located close. It's all about convenience for the people in Cottage Grove and the surrounding communities so they don't have to go to St. Paul,” added McGowan.
She also talked about how great Salons by JC has been to work with since the start. The owner helped her hang shelves and build displays and they are very flexible in letting people create their own space including painting the walls as they see fit. McGowan selected the perfect shade of brown to fit the feel of her store and it adds a ton to the warmth of the space.
If you or someone you know is in need of ethnic beauty supplies, pay Ebony Queen Beauty Supplies a visit. Share this story with your friends, and when you go, tell Lashonda you heard about this awesome little shop from Bruce at the Journal, you will not regret the visit.
The shop is located in Salons by JC in the mall that has Sport Clips, TJ MAXX, HomeGoods and Petsmart next to HyVee grocery store. The address is 7240 East Point Douglas Road, and her hours are noon to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
