Photo by Erin Nelson.
The Dunnavant shops will feature businesses including a hair salon, nail spa and a drugstore.
Just a few miles off U.S. 280 down Shelby County 41, the Dunnavant Valley area has seen tremendous growth in the past several years. The town of Mt Laurel offers a variety of shops and restaurants, and a new development across the street will provide even more.
Dunnavant Square is the newest commercial development in the area. As of press time, only 5,750 of 18,500 square feet of space was still available. The property has been owned by Bill Thornton and his daughter Lauren Thornton Jamison of Dunnavant Commercial LLC for the past 12 years, and the groundbreaking on this new project began in the spring of 2018.
Lauren Thornton said this area is a “gem outside of Birmingham.”
“We love Dunnavant Valley,” she said. “Securing the kinds of tenants we have has made us very proud, and they will bring a lot of value and convenience to the area.”
Agent Kathy Dennis of The Shopping Center Group said the primary incentive is to develop a retail center for Dunnavant Valley that will meet everyday needs for the people who live there. She said many people who live in the area come home from work on Friday and don’t leave the valley until they go back to work on Monday. Therefore, they need places to eat, shop and get what they need within a close proximity.
“The closest retail is 6.3 miles away, and it’s not an easy drive down Highway 41 to 280 or Hugh Daniel,” Dennis said. “That was the primary reason to develop this valley. We are looking for everyday needs for the residents of these neighborhoods.”
Some of the first shops to open at Dunnavant Square will be a drug store, hair salon and nail spa. The entire middle building will feature a national brand, and Dennis said they are also having discussions with several prospective restaurants.
Dave Giegel will be leasing that middle building and said it will feature a well-known national brand store. However, as of press time, documents were still pending from corporate and more information could not be released until they were finalized, including the name of the tenant. Geigel said the store should be open sometime in December.
Here are a few of the tenants that will open first.
VILLAGE DRUG CO.
Husband and wife team Matt and Lauren Zauchin are the owners of Village Drug Co. The couple lives in Hoover but jumped at the opportunity to open its first pharmacy in Dunnavant Square.
A graduate of Samford pharmacy school, Matt Zauchin spent time working at Crestline Pharmacy in Mountain Brook and loved the connection the owners had with the community. He looks forward to bringing that same concept to Village Drug Co. Matt Zauchin has also worked at a retail chain pharmacy for the past several years and is looking forward to connecting with his new customers at Village Drug Co.
“I like the small-town feel here in this community, and I can better serve in this area more than I ever could at a chain pharmacy,” he said.
Lauren Zauchin works as the pharmacy technician, while also curating all the store’s inventory. She wants the customer’s shopping experience to not be overwhelming.
“We will be cutting down on brand variation to give a smaller selection,” she said. “We don’t want to offer too much of one thing, but offer the best of the best. We don’t want our customers to have to hunt for something.”
Village Drug Co. will also feature a kid’s play area, a patient care room for privacy and the only drive-through in the area.
The Zauchins’ goal is to serve the community to the best of their ability, with business hours accommodating for working parents. The store will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. “We want to make it as convenient as possible for people,” Lauren Zauchin said. “Because I’m a mom, that’s all I’m thinking about.” They plan to open Oct. 5.
For information on Village Drug Co. visit facebook.com/villagedrugco.
COLORBAR SALON
The Colorbar Salon will be relocating from Inverness to the shops at Dunnavant Square. Owner Michael Willis has more than 10 years of experience in the industry and has owned Colorbar for the past five years. The salon currently has six stylists specializing in haircuts, treatments, color, extensions and microblading.
Stylist Brantley Willis said they have been wanting to relocate for a while, and this was a great spot to move.
“About 85% of our clients live in Shoal Creek, Mt Laurel or Highland Lakes,” he said. “We found out about this spot in everyone’s backyard, and this way no one has to travel on 280. The biggest complaint [about our location] was traffic, and now people can avoid 280 and come anytime.”
Willis describes the salon as family oriented, and it can do the entire family’s hair, including children’s cuts.
Colorbar’s new space will be bright and open. There is a full patio in the front with tables and chairs. The salon also serves wine, mimosas and champagne.
“Sometimes one friend will show up while someone is getting their hair done,” he said. “It’s a good place for people to come hang out and sit under umbrellas and also enjoy Mt Laurel.”
Colorbar is open six days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, visit colorbarbham.com.
NAIL BOUTIQUE AND SPA
With more than 50 locations around the Southeast, Nail Boutique and Spa is not new to the area. This high-end nail spa will be located next to Colorbar.
Brooks Corr, partner at The Retail Companies, is the broker for the location and said its demographics were a good fit.
“There’s not another competing nail salon until you get out to 280,” Corr said.
Nail Boutique and Spa will offer nail services, waxing and bridal party services. The projected opening date will be late fall, around Thanksgiving. Visit nailboutiquespa.com for hours and other information.
The shops at Dunnavant Square are located at 300 Carlow Lane across Shelby County 41 from the town of Mt Laurel.
