What an incredible night we had at the virtual ribbon cutting ceremony for Currie Hair, Skin, and Nails in downtown Wilmington, Delaware last week! The event was the CITY’S first virtual ribbon cutting ceremony, and the first in the WORLD for a L’Oreal Salon, and co-hosted by Redken!
The evening was filled with interviews with local and national experts in cosmetology, a ribbon cutting by Mayor Purzycki, well wishes from Buccini/Pollin Group and HOTEL DU PONT, a Staycation Giveaway to one lucky essential worker, and a tour with owner Randy Currie! Let’s look back at some of the highlights.
The First Virtual Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in the World!
When we were first approached to help co-host the event, we knew Currie Salon set a standard of excellence for Wilmington in their location at Justison Landing on the Riverfront. What we DIDN’T know was the impact his standard has made on the industry for big names like L’Oreal and Redken. Currie Hair, Skin Nails has been recognized by big names like Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE. They’ve also won “Salon of the Year” by Salon Today as well as the ‘Most Innovative Salon in the United States’ by the international beauty community.
Learning all of this was in our backyard, and finding out that this would be the FIRST VIRTUAL RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY IN THE WORLD for a L’oreal salon made this event all the more exciting!
L’Oreal, Redken and Currie have a unique partnership. On air we interviewed Leslie Marino, President of Professional Products Division for American brands at L’Oréal. She has worked for L’Oreal for over 30 years, and has known Randy for 10 years. She credits the strong partnership L’Oreal has with Currie to Randy. “Randy is such an incredible innovator, he’s so modern. He wants to be the first to test products, test technology. He’s one of those people that wants to be first and give the very best to every one of his clients.”
Redken’s General Manager Candy Gebhart commented on the importance of the salon’s opening, “This salon is not only a flagship site for the city of Wilmington, but it’s the flagship of the United States! The reason being because this salon and partnership means more than Redken itself, it means a lot to the industry. The ribbon cutting itself symbolizes a new beginning we could not wait for it to be 2021, and is perfectly timed with the new Redken retail launch that just happened on March 1st.”
Meet the “Man behind the Curtain” Randy Currie!
A Pittsburgh native, Randy moved to Philadelphia in 1975 and pursued beauty school. He has since opened 9 salons, 5 of which are currently active under Currie Hair, Skin, and Nails. He currently has 2 locations in Wilmington, one of which is at Justison Landing on the Riverfront.
“In 2008 I was approached by BPG to develop a location on the Riverfront and we are proud that it’s been successful down there for 12 years.”
He elaborated on the opening downtown with Delaware Today, “To open a brand new salon during a pandemic is nothing less than an amazing feat. We are beyond excited to begin a new chapter with HOTEL DU PONT We are able to immerse the city of Wilmington with the pure luxury it deserves. We want people to come in whether you’re a guest of the hotel or coming in from the suburbs. We took a great deal of time with the layout and it’s setup for an experience.”
Breaking Ground
The construction of the new location was a collaborative effort. Ground broke on the project in 2019 with Italian architect Guido Matta and interior designer Dana Penso. All salon furniture was custom designed and imported from Italy, including a restored 1930s Wilmington Trust renovated bank safe (which we were told weighs 10,000 pounds!)
Candy Gebhart commented during our live program, “When Randy told me about this project I was questioning how can you get this done? He had a vision, he knew what he was going to do, and we appreciate him because this is what the industry needs.”
Guido Matta sent in his comments and well wishes, “A completed project is the spatial synthesis of the needs and ambitions that unite many people. The concept salon and spa project for Randy Currie in the Dupont Hotel in Wilmington is much more than that. It is the result of a match won against Covid 19, it is the story of two years of work that involved all of us, it is the will to keep the promises of beauty, representativeness and innovation contained in the project despite the adversities, despite the drama of the events that hit the whole world.”
“Randy’s space is ‘the place’ for meeting and socializing for all people, women, men, children who seek their own well-being and beauty with the joy and awareness of how beautiful it is to be able to do it in company.”
Dana Penso added in her well wishes, “After a very long process, and patience through many many things, it’s turned out to be a lovely space.”
A city within 4 walls, with safety in mind
We were so impressed with the services that Currie has to offer its clients! You could literally spend a full 8 hour day getting pampered! With 8 nail stations, 2 makeup stations, 12 stylist hair stations, and 3 spa treatment rooms with showers and infrared sauna, you could spend a full 8 hour day getting pampered!
A big thing for me in going back to the salon is wanting to do so safely. Currie feels the same way about its clients and employees. Each station has plexiglass screens on all individual service stations and are professionally cleaned by Oasis using the disinfectant and antimicrobial system PermaSafe.
A perfect spa day FOR ME at Currie would be as follows:
- Gel Manicure and Reflexology Pedicure
- Full body massage or scrub/wrap (like the 30 min Body Glow Express OR Montalcino Thermal Mud Body Treatment, exclusive to the location at the Du Pont Building!)
- 30 minute Infrared Sauna Session (also available ONLY at this location!)
- Signature Hydrafacial with a warmed scalp massage (pure BLISS)
- Haircut and color, with extensions if I’m feeling fun! (ask for Megan! The shine and volume of my hair at the event was TO DIE FOR)
- Make up (ask for Maureen! I got so many compliments when she did my makeup for the event)
Currie was generous enough to donate hair and makeup services to me before our live event, and even gave Witt a rainbow pedicure live on air (as voted by YOU!)
What I also appreciate about the location is it sits on a block that is “a city within four walls”. You could spend a whole day on the block and not really need to leave! Stay at the Hotel Du Pont overnight (or rent your own apartment at 101 DuPont), get breakfast or lunch at De.Co, have your spa day at Currie, then get dinner at Le Cavalier and catch a show at The Playhouse (I do miss the arts!)
Celebrating Essential Workers, and Get 20% off your first visit!
One of the most exciting parts of the event was hosting a contest with Currie, Le Cavalier, and HOTEL DU PONT to “Celebrate Our Essential Workers”. We asked viewers to nominate an essential worker who deserved a Staycation which includes: 1 night’s stay at HOTEL DU PONT, 1 hair and 1 spa service from Currie, and a gift card to dine at Le Cavalier. We received over 26 submissions of incredible Wilmingtonians who are doing their part to make our city and nation a better place.
After going over these compelling stories, Currie decided to donate 3 more surprise prizes for a hair and spa service to deserving essential workers.
We announced the winner of the Staycation Package live on air as nurse Dionne Price, “A single mother raising 2 amazing daughters and working 2 jobs. During the week Dionne has been on the frontline at the Wilmington VA. Since Covid hit she has volunteered for testing duty, worked the Covid ward, and now helps coordinate getting at risk Vets vaccinated. On the weekends she continues to help others by working as a caregiver at an assisted living home.” She was nominated by friend Kev McDonald.
Additional winners included social worker Kate Ragghianti, labor and delivery nurse Kierstin Hill, and PNC bank employee Kirk Mader, who was responsible for granting small business’ loans to be able to stay open.
Read more about these winners in our upcoming blog!
We also announced live on air the opportunity to get 20% off your first visit to Currie Salon by mentioning the promo code “Virtual Ribbon Cutting” when booking your appointment over the phone, so make your appointment today!
Watch the replay of “It’s Time to Celebrate with Currie Salon!” on Facebook or YouTube. Follow Currie Hair, Skin, and Nails on their Website, Facebook, and Instagram, and as always follow my journey with It’s Time on our Website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
Comment below with a spa service you’re DYING to try at Currie Salon, or another favorite salon of yours in the city!
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