No Grease barbershop expands again, now with a franchisee who has big goals

Washington opened his first location at Northlake Mall in 2019, becoming the first franchisee who was not a barber.

“Strictly entrepreneur,” Washington told Axios with a smile.

• His second barbershop opened in August at Charlotte Premium Outlets, with a grand opening scheduled for Oct. 23 from 3-8 p.m.
• The grand opening, which is open to the public, will feature a red carpet and food by chef Siobhan Brown, Washington’s sister.

Why it matters: This is what twin brothers Damian and Jermaine Johnson, who founded No Grease in 1997, have long hoped to build: a business that lifts up not only them but other Black businesspeople and barbers.

• Since shedding high-interest loans in 2018, they’ve accelerated their growth intentionally, planting No Grease shops from here to Atlanta and elsewhere.
• They now have a barber school and 12 locations, six corporate and six franchise locations.
• Washington owns two franchise locations, and hopes to open a third location in late 2022.
• “This journey with Edmund has been quite an experience,” Damian told Axios. “By him not being in the industry and just diving right in and really wanting to be a sponge and learn the barber industry has been one of the joys of my journey as an owner.”

His backstory: Washington holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Gardner-Webb University and a master’s in information technology and cyber security from Florida Institute of Technology.

Passion project: By day, he works as a technical sales specialist for Microsoft.

• No Grease! is his passion project and something he is building for his 12-year-old son, Caleb Washington.
• “It’s a legacy move I can pass down,” Washington said.
• Like the Johnsons, who got the entrepreneurial itch from their mother, a hairstylist in Buffalo, Washington was inspired by his great grandmother. She owned a nail salon and a restaurant.

Building others up is key to Washington’s entrepreneurial vision.

• Lead barber Darnele Chisholm also owns 10% of the venture.
• Washington hopes the equity in the company will allow Chisholm to open his own barbershop one day.

By the numbers: Washington invested $180,000 into transforming the space, approximately the same amount he spent preparing his first location.

• “You need to invest six figures to get a six-figure return,” Washington said.

• He used contractor Ramon Perry of Like Father Like Son.
• Designers Megan Butler and Wendy Brit-Perez, who worked on the Northlake barbershop too, helped create a luxurious atmosphere at the Charlotte Premium Outlets space.
• No Grease Charlotte Premium Outlets includes seven chairs for clients to be serviced.

💭 My thought bubble: The barbershop incorporated real brick, which gives it an elegant feel.

Art makes a space: Charlotte artists Marcus Kiser and Wolly McNair created a mural highlighting the Black experience for the new location.

• The Savage Way also produced moss art, including a sign reading “No Grease!” above the front desk.

More than a barbershop: Washington envisioned a luxury concept expanding beyond a haircut or shave.

• He partnered with entrepreneur Sheena Pickett to add Alpha Male nail care to the space.
• Alpha Male is only for men.
• Washington is also pursuing a liquor license for this location in order to add a bar.
• It will be a full-service bar with a cocktail menu, and customers will be able to scan a code with their phone to place a drink order upon arrival.
• Twin Towers is signature cocktail named for the Johnson brothers, featuring Maker’s Mark, maple syrup and bitters.

Go deeper with Michael Graff’s reporting on the No Grease! franchise.