Thomas & Company city’s first men's salon

Owners Steve and Kaylene Pofahl, center, and assistant manager Kelsey Billeter, left, are shown inside a stylist’s booth at Thomas & Company, the men’s salon the Pofahls will open Monday in Brookings’ Calla Center. Photo by Charis Prunty/Register

• ‘Haircare for Guys’ brainchild of Lake Poinsett couple

BROOKINGS – A new salon slotted to open in Brookings next week is targeting a specific clientele, and not the one to which its counterparts usually cater. Thomas & Company will be “Haircare for Guys” – a men’s salon. It’s located in the Calla Center, on Sixth Street just east of 22nd Avenue, between CherryBerry self-serve yogurt bar and Buttercrust Bakery.

“We think that Brookings is really a great opportunity for this concept of a guy’s salon that’s really catching on in the bigger cities,” said Steve Pofahl, who co-owns the salon with his wife, Kaylene.

The concept is established in Sioux Falls, Pofahl said, noting that Brookings’ neighbor to the south already has at least three salons that specifically target men.

“There’s really nothing like that yet in Brookings and we feel the town is really ready for something like that. It’s a great town, it’s growing, it’s got a dynamic men’s population,” he said.

Thomas and Company is a new brand created by Steve and Kaylene, not a chain or a franchise. “Thomas” is Kaylene’s maiden name and the name of their son. It’s also more familiar than “Pofahl.” The couple likes that familiarity because it hopes to launch more salons in the future.



First business together

Steve and Kaylene live on Lake Poinsett and this is their first business venture together. He has been an executive for a communications company; she has been in the hair care industry for years, working for salons in several states. She pulled ideas from several of these places to design the inside of Thomas & Company.

The look of Thomas & Company will appeal to guys’ tastes, Steve said, with a masculine and classy style.

A bonus feature for this salon is that men can watch the game or other programs while getting their haircut, because each stylist’s station includes a television. Each station also includes a sink for washing hair. So, once customers sit in the barber’s chair, they won’t need to get up until their service is finished.

Four-foot walls between stylist stations will create some privacy for clients, which the Pofahls have found that men appreciate. And they’re offering an extra touch: A steam towel for relaxation.

“After you’ve had your haircut, you kind of kick back and relax a little bit and they apply this steam towel,” Steve said.

The salon will offer cuts, colors and other services for men, including massage therapy. The massage therapy will be done in a separate room; the company is still looking to hire a therapist.

Thomas & Company has seven stylist stations and is still hiring stylists, too.



Monday opening

The salon is set to open Monday. A website is in the works, and a grand opening is planned for mid September.

Thomas & Company hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The salon will be closed on Sundays. Walk-ins are welcome but the salon encourages appointments.



Contact Charis Prunty at cprunty@brookingsregister.com.