Ribbon Cut

Community welcomes new business to downtown Lincoln
Ashley Jackson snips the ribbon on Experience Beauty Bar

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[January 31, 2023]   Friday evening (January 27, 2023) the new business, Experience Beauty Bar owned by Ashley Jackson was filled to overflowing with guests there to welcome Lincoln’s newest downtown business.

Jackson, with her stylist Aubrey Letterle and receptionist Anna Henderson enjoyed a soft opening of the new business before Christmas. With all going well, they decided it was time to celebrate their opening with a Friday evening open house and ribbon cutting ceremony.

As guests arrived, Ashley provided a list of people who were important to her, Letterle and Henderson and asked that they be invited to join her behind the ribbon for the cutting.



Those who were brought to the front of the room included Jackson, Letterle, Henderson, Jackson’s dad Shawn Taylor with good friend Sue Davis, Jackson’s mom Becky Taylor and good friend Doug Newhouse, Jackson’s husband Joshua and in-laws Bobby and Kelli Jackson, Jackson’s sister Tawnya Frioli, best friend Jenna Connor and Jenna’s husband Braden. Joining Letterle behind the ribbon were her dad, mom, and step mom, Tom, Sheryl, and Charolotte Letterle.

On Hand representing the city of Lincoln was Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Bateman, Ward Three Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, and City Clerk Peggy Bateman. Logan County Tourism Bureau Director Alice Roate assisted with the cutting ceremony.

With everyone gathered behind the ribbon, there were still many guests who stood in the back of the room to witness the ceremony. The first to speak was Nila Smith with the LDN ribbon cutters. She opened by thanking everyone who was there to celebrate the new business. She recalled a previous meeting with Jackson when it was mentioned that Jackson had wanted to start her own business for a while. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jackson had spent her time away from her current job contemplating making a big change in her career path. Smith said that while many bad things happened during the pandemic, sometimes looking for the good paid off, and this is one case where it did. Jackson had time to examine her options, and make positive changes that were good for her and for the downtown area.



The next person to speak was Mayor Pro Tem Bateman who said that he and Rohlfs were always delighted to see new businesses come to the downtown area. He noted that the building Experience Beauty Bar is in has history and has enjoyed several businesses. It was good to see the new business bringing back to life one of Lincoln’s many storefronts.

Rohlfs also spoke congratulating Jackson and her team and wishing them all the best while repeating the desire to see the downtown storefronts filled and thriving.

When Rohlfs finished it was noted that the building does have historical value and on the inside it is very nicely decorated. It was noted that Jackson had solicited the help of her dad, Shawn Taylor in doing the remodel and setting the business up to be a full service salon.

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Jackson spoke last saying she wanted to thank everyone for attending and also thank all those who had shown her such wonderful support as she worked to achieve this new business.



With the comments concluded, the group was asked to pose for a picture before the entire building of guests assisted with the countdown to the snipping of the ribbon.

After the ribbon was cut, all were invited to stay for a while, check out the business and talk with the Jackson and her team.

Prior to the ribbon cutting on Friday night, Jackson had spent time with Lincoln Daily News, talking about her new businesses.

She said she had worked several years at Blade’s in Lincoln. She had wanted to start her own business but had just not taken that leap. During the pandemic, she had the opportunity to think it all through. She noted that her dad was a business owner and she had some business knowledge from being his daughter.

She noted that the building had been a blank canvas and her dad had helped her create a salon that was attractive, spacious, and inviting.

Jackson noted that she and Letterle had worked together at Blades, and they were quite happy about the prospects of working together in the new venture.

After the soft opening, Jackson said she had been made to feel quite welcome with a visit from the downtown business group and she was looking forward to being a part of the community and getting involved in downtown activities.

The Experience Beauty Bar is located at 206 South Chicago Street in Lincoln. The business is a full service salon offering haircuts, styles, and coloring, manicures and pedicures, facials and waxing.

The salon will be open six days a week with mixed hours to accommodate customer schedules. Hours are Monday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Appointments are preferred but Jackson said if someone walks in there is a possibility they can have immediate service, but no guarantee.

Call 217-651-6700 or visit
Experience Beauty Bar LLC (glossgenius.com)

Congratulation to Ashley and her team, and best wishes for a great future in downtown Lincoln.

[Nila Smith]

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