Wildcats Salon filling historic niche

Sat., Sept. 2, 2006

Christopher Rodkey Staff writer

There’s a bit of hair history near Pines and Sprague.

In the 1960s, Holly Henson was just a kid who would hang out in Bob and Jerry’s Barber Shop, which was next to Ron’s Drive-In. Her parents, Bob and Helen McMillian, as well as father-in-law Jerry Henson, ran the shop, which was a Valley icon along Sprague.

Now, dozens of years later, Holly Henson is returning hair services to nearly the same location by opening Wildcats Salon.

“The biggest reason I rented this space was because it was near where my parents were,” Henson said. “After 30 years, I’m back.”

Henson is offering a full-service salon, and three other stylists work in the shop with her. Some customers still remember the old barber shop, and some even got their hair cut back at the old place.

Bob and Jerry’s was located in a house facing Sprague Avenue. A strip mall wiped out that old home, but Bob and Jerry’s moved into the mall until it closed. Now, a Baskin-Robbins stands in the same spot as the old house, and Wildcats is only a few yards behind it.

Henson said she could remember when Ron’s Drive-In across the street had walk-up service rather than indoor seating. The area has seen plenty of changes, she said.

Though opening the new shop has been a challenge, she said she’s looking forward to owning her own business and getting new customers into her salon.

The flowers are coming

Flowers are descending upon Spokane Valley, and one florist hopes 2,400 of them make it into the hands of 2,400 people.

Appleway Florist and Greenhouse is giving away 2,400 flowers in bunches of a dozen on Wednesday starting at 10 a.m. The florist is asking for a nonperishable food item donation for the food bank in exchange.

They’re also hoping for a promise. Workers at the florist said they hope people will pick up the bunches and then distribute the flowers to 11 other people, keeping only one for themselves.

“We hope to help create a friendlier, more caring and compassionate world, starting right here in Spokane,” said Sue Bartleson with Appleway Florist.

The event is part of FTD’s Good Neighbor Day.

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