Back in Business

When Jim Frazier's downtown salon, Hair by Jim, burned down on Thanksgiving, he knew there was no choice but to get back in business as soon as possible.

Just under three months later and only about 100 feet from his old location, a new Hair by Jim sign is up and Frazier is back to cutting hair.

"When that fire happened, I didn't know what was going to happen," he said. "I was devastated. This is my only means of support and it was the holidays, the busiest time of year. If I didn't do something immediately I'd be out of business forever."

Frazier jumped into action immediately, with help from the community. The  said it would let him to cut hair on its dance floor and a client offered to give Jim an RV that could become a makeshift salon.

The RV gave Frazier an idea. He found an article online about a lady with mobile salons. He e-mailed her and asked if he could lease one as soon as possible. The next day he got a phone call telling him there were mobile salons available and 10 days after his brink-and-mortar salon burned, .

Though the mobile salon kept Frazier afloat, it wasn't a long-term solution. Next door to his old salon was a building that the previous tenants were willing to move from. This gave Frazier an opportunity to get back in business, it was just going to take a little bit of work.

He started building his new salon mid-January. But what was important to Frazier was that local Clayton businesses, which supported him at his lowest moment, were involved in his comeback.

"Good friends helped me out," he said. "All the contractors, all my landscaping came from local companies here in town. That was a big thing for me. Being part of the CBCA, Clayton Business & Community Association, I mean how could I go to Concord or Antioch or Walnut Creek to rebuild my place?"

It took just six weeks. On March 6, Hair by Jim held its grand reopening.

The new location has the charm and feel of his old salon. But with wooden floors, three sinks and chairs and a flat screen TV in the waiting area, the new salon also has a modern vibe.

"It feels good," Frazier said. "I'm still getting settled and getting everything where I need it to be. Especially when I get busy, I like everything to have its place."

Chuck Hill, who has known Frazier for close to a decade, came in for his first haircut Monday.

"It's really neat," he said. "I'm really glad to see what he did and that he's back."

The investigation into the fire is ongoing. Frazier said investigators might have a lead from a chair stolen after the fire. But Frazier is focused on the future.

"I didn't have the luxury of time to wait for a check to come," he said. "Who knows if we find this person and they pay restitution, but I can't worry about that. I had to get back in business."