Sola Salons has opened its most ambitious location yet in Northeast Minneapolis, unveiling a 101-studio flagship designed to support independent beauty professionals. The nearly 30,000-square-foot facility is the largest in the company’s history and reflects a new vision for the salon-studio model. Demand was strong even before the doors opened, with about 70 percent of the studios pre-leased in advance of the launch.
The new location offers far more than salon suites. Inside, beauty entrepreneurs will find a fitness center, yoga and meditation spaces, and even a podcast studio tailored for content creators. There is also a beauty supply store, showers, a creative workspace, and an education center for events and training. Shared lounges, break rooms with games, laundry facilities, and a mail center add to the sense of community, while outdoor picnic areas, private parking, and a drive-in garage round out the amenities.
Behind the project are Erin and Patrick Elgin, who operate 14 Sola Salons across the region and support more than 660 independent beauty businesses. Their aim with this latest development was to create an environment that goes beyond functionality. “This facility is truly designed with their needs and desires in mind,” Erin Elgin said, noting that the concept was shaped by feedback from beauty professionals themselves.
Daryl Hurst, president and chief operating officer of Sola Salons, described the Minneapolis flagship as the brand’s boldest expression of its mission. “Our Northeast Minneapolis location is the ultimate expression of what Sola stands for,” he said, emphasizing the company’s commitment to empowering independent operators with both resources and community.
The opening signals a shift in the salon-studio industry toward spaces that do more than provide a chair and a mirror. By integrating wellness, education, and creative resources, Sola is positioning itself as a partner in entrepreneurship, offering beauty professionals a place to build businesses while cultivating a balanced and supportive environment. This model could influence the next wave of growth for the salon-studio segment nationwide.