Cousins and owners of the Streets of London Salon, Lisa J. (also the lead stylist) and Tony Baba found their way to Chicago in 2002 and 2007, respectively. After years of training and experience in salons worldwide, they decided to bless Lincoln Park with their very own ‘Piece of Britain’. The Streets of London opened its doors on January 1st and are without a doubt fulfilling the promise of bringing something new to the art of Chicago hairstyling.

This month on Novem Life, we are honored to bring you the story of our English friends at 1907 West Diversey Parkway.

So, what is your name and where are you from?
My name is Tony Baba from South London.

How long have you been living in Chicago?
I have been in Chicago for one year.

Exactly how did ‘SOL’ start?
My cousin (Lisa J) is the best hairdresser in the world. If she cuts your hair once you will be back, no questions asked. Our family has a long history of experience in the salon industry. Lisa trained at the largest and most famous European salon under Toni&Guy. Shortly after studying with Toni&Guy, she was teaching for them. How could I not open up my own Salon with that much talent?

Why did you choose Chicago as a location?
For us, this is the place to be. I travel far and wide but Chicago is the friendliest joint in the whole USA. I love that the different cultures are really blending with each other. I know it wasn’t always like this here or anywhere, but it is happing right here and right now! It’s wicked!!!

What distinguishes the Streets of London Salon from its competition?
The Salon’s name gives us away. We provide a fresh approach brought to you from the streets of London: No runway bullshit!! No corperate pushing!! How we cut hair is a reflection of what’s happing on the streets. We have contacts from London (pro-photographers, fashion designers, and other salon owners) that inform us of what the vibe is back home and we incorporate that in our salon: fun, fresh, funky and sophisticated. That’s how we roll!

What does Streets of London have in store for us next?

We want to bring a men’s hair product line into Chi Town. In Europe we realized that men have just as many needs as the girls when it comes to hair and there is a big space to fill! That’s all I’m giving away right now!
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- D.Menace

Owned by Jenny Stadler and Shirley Novak, two designers that operate their respective clothing lines from the Logan Square shop, Wolfbait serves up original Chicago goods from over 80 other local clothing and jewelry artisans as well. I spoke with Shirley on Halloween, her favorite holiday, and asked a few questions about Wolfbait and B-Girls’ origins.

So, how did this all begin? What spawned the idea to open a boutique?
Jenny and I met about 5 years ago, doing other craft and fashion shows. We opened our store almost 2 years ago.

When was that?
We actually opened on April Fool’s Day, 2006.  So if we weren’t ready yet we could say ‘Just kidding!’

What steps did you take to make that a reality?
We spent a year and a half on our business plan, looking at different locations, and raising money.  Our business plan had to be full-proof, and keep in mind every possible detail.  It took lots of preparation.

How’d you choose your location?
Jenny found it- Actually the building wasn’t even built yet. We reserved our space with the condo developer when it was still an empty lot. We liked Logan Square because it wasn’t already saturated with boutiques, like Wicker Park or Lincoln Park. We wanted to be different, and create a new audience in a new neighborhood.

Is there a central theme here?
Well, we are totally local- carrying exclusively local designers.  But I’d say quality and originality are our two main traits.

What can we expect to see next?

Expect? Our best quality is that we’re unpredictable!

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- R.Pepin

With homegrown beats playing in the background, anyone can browse the cases of custom jewelry and alternative wedding rings, designer sunglasses and independent apparel. But Eric, the boutique’s owner, is quick to tell you, “It’s not just stuff you buy, but the vibe you get when you walk into the store.” And that vibe is what keeps people coming back. With a lounge section in the back of the store, an ample supply of culture mags, it’s easy to pass time in The Silver Room just enjoying the environment. Before you know it, you’ve been there an hour.

Eric gave me a little background on how it all got started, “I was a street peddler, and I sold t-shirts in college to pay for my finance degree.” The entrepreneur, with a flair for music and fashion, got frustrated with the various hassles involved with selling gear at outdoor street festivals. So, once his store got underway, he decided to put together his own street fest: The Silver Room’s annual Sound System block party, coming up on July 21st. The main stage is set-up at the corner of Milwaukee and Evergreen; so the whole neighborhood can enjoy the creative vibe provided by the boutique. This year’s line-up includes several impressive DJs, a set by MC Juice, as well as martial arts, yoga, and dance performances, interspersed by fashion shows throughout the day. The event is a ton of fun, and a great way for The Silver Room to connect with the community, a goal that many retailers aspire for, but rarely pull off with such grace.

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– R.Pepin