How would a concept like mine do in Davis Square?

[neknockouts.livejournal.com]

I recently acquired the master franchise rights to a relatively new but fast growing salon concept called Knockouts®. 

It is a sports-themed franchised salon chain providing competitively-priced haircuts and other grooming services including coloring, massage therapy, facials, manicures, pedicures, and hair waxing. It caters specially to men by offering a pampering experience that is not available at other discount walk-in salons and without charging high-end salon prices.  

Each salon features specially-chosen staff of female stylists wearing Knockout Girls^® uniforms, large leather chairs fitted specially for men, individual flat screen TV's with a remote control at each station and complimentary beverages. The environment is upscale and professional yet casual and fun.

Since 2004, Knockouts has sold more than 123 franchised locations in thirteen states, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Texas and Vermont. The chain currently operates nine salons, with many more scheduled to open soon.  For more information, please visit our websites www.nekocorp.com and www.knockouts.net.

I'm looking into the possibility of putting my first location in Davis Square.  Do you think it would do well in Davis Square? Are there good locations available? Any input/comments would be welcomed and greatly appreciated.  Thanks...

Comments

Re: Could you elaborate

[quietann.livejournal.com]

I do know a number of married couples living in the Davis area, and *most* are not sharing their (owned) places with room-mates. There is a lot to like there -- easy T commute to jobs in Cambridge and Boston, interesting shops and people, entertainment, relatively safe for an urban area, etc. I think some folks get bitten by the "Davis bug" early on and just can't bear the thought of leaving. The deal breaker for some but not all people is getting married and having kids; at that point Davis gets too pricey for most. (I personally would not live there because it's way to crowded and noisy for me; my husband and I have an old farmhouse on several acres out in the burbs...)

OTOH, it *used* to be a cheap area. When I moved to Boston in 1996, and was looking for a pet-friendly, one bedroom apartment I could afford on my own ($700 or less per month), it was one of the areas recommended to me. Some of my friends who own houses or condos in the area bought before Davis got trendy, or just as it was starting (e.g. one person who paid $260K for a three-family in 1997, and it's now worth at least 3x that if not more -- though they have put a lot of money into improving it.)