BEDFORD, Va. — A Bedford family joined forces to create a one-stop-shop for hair supplies and some home-style cooking. It is a one-stop-shop for hair supplies and home-style cooking.
On one side of the building, you will find a bustling kitchen, filled with the smell of a home-cooked meal.
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On the other side, you will find a beauty supply shop filled with wigs and hair extensions.
Barbara Mays and Cjay Jones are two of the owners of Hair Wear Beauty Supply and Sooul Food.
“First thing they say is, ‘How are y’all going to do food and hair?’ because they’re thinking… I don’t know what they’re thinking!” Mays said. “But I have to explain to them that this is a separate part from the food and when they come in and see it, they say, ‘Oh, man! This is neat!'”
“The food draws the people in for the hair,” Jones said. “And the hair draws people in the food when they walk in that door, they smell it.”
For Jones, cooking is a passion that dates back to his childhood.
“It comes back from my grandmothers,” Jones said. “When I was young, I was up under my mom all the time and that’s all she used to do was cook, and everyone used to come to our house for food.”
Food is to-go only. Customers can slide right up to the window to order.
“Oh, it feels so good, for real, to show people that it’s more than just hamburgers and fast food,” Jones said. “It feels good to serve people.”
While they are preparing your food, you can take a peek inside the beauty store side. It is the first Black-owned hair supply store in Bedford.
“Most of the time, they either have to go to Roanoke or Lynchburg, so this cuts some of the time down,” Mays said.
Opening a business in the pandemic can present its challenges. For this family, it is all about putting two passions into one.
It’s been a little challenging, but with everything, you’re going to have a little challenge, but you have to persevere,” Mays said. “If you want to make this dream come true you have to just go for it.”
Hair Wear Beauty Supply and Sooul Food are open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to p.m. They are located at 1057 Hull Street in Bedford. You can reach them at (540) 583-5073.
