No Grease Barbershop Opening At Carolina Place Mall

No Grease Barbershop is expanding into south Charlotte/Pineville, as it prepares to open at Carolina Place mall on Thursday, July 3. This will be the Charlotte-based franchise's fourth location, which includes barbershops at Time Warner Cable Arena in Uptown, Mosaic Village near Johnson C. Smith University, and at Concord Mills mall. No Grease also operates a barber school.

The new No Grease location at Carolina Place. Photos credit: instagram.com/nogreasebarbershop

I told part of the No Grease story in a feature I wrote last summer for Creative Loafing, that took readers inside Charlotte's barbershop culture. Twin brothers Damian and Jermaine Johnson opened their first No Grease shop in June 1997, when they were in their early 20s. It's been impressive and inspiring to see how much their business has grown, along with their partner Charlie Petty, and how much of an asset they've become to Charlotte as a brand, as small business owners, and as philanthropists.

The No Grease guys celebrated their 17th anniversary with a cocktail gala last Friday. Check out the snazzy video recap below.

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Back-to-School Community Events Saturday and Monday in Charlotte

If I was a kid, this would be the time of year I would dread--end of summer break and back-to-school time. But if you're an underprivileged kid, you have bigger reasons to worry about going back to school. Thankfully, there are several organizations and companies in Charlotte that are giving their time and resources to help make getting back into the classroom an easier, happier, and more exciting time for all children, fortunate or less fortunate.

Here are a few events and causes you should support by bringing your kids (or neighbors' kids) or by making donations.

 Saturday, August 20

School Tools Postal Collection Day
All month long, WSOC-TV's 9 Family Focus, in partnership with Communities In Schools and Classroom Central, has been leading a community outreach project to collect school supplies for children. And this Saturday, you can contribute and barely have to leave your house. U.S. Postal Service letter carriers will collect school supplies left at residential mail boxes on August 20. Supplies donated in your county will stay in your county and help local children succeed in school. Participating counties are: Mecklenburg, Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lancaster, Lincoln, Richmond, and Rowan. Click here for a full list of participating zip codes, www.wsoctv.com/school-tools/index.html.

Back-to-School Festival at Druid Hills Academy
Now expanded from a K-5 to a K-8 school, Druid Hills hosts this annual event Saturday to welcome students back by providing a fun-filled day of games, prizes, food, and more. It will also unite the school's community partners and allow them to display the many resources they provide for local families. Several community organizations, faith-based groups, and local businesses are participating, including: Altrusa International of Charlotte (primary sponsor), the Johnston YMCA, Carolinas Medical Center, Domino's Pizza, Rita's Italian Ice, Power 98 FM, Charlotte Children's Choir, Communities In Schools, A Child's Place, Smart Start, Target, CMPD, and more. If you have any questions, contact Joseph Allen, CIS site coordinator at Druid Hills Academy, 980-343-5515, joseph1.allen@cms.k12.nc.us. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Druid Hills Academy, 2801 Lucena St., www.cischarlotte.org.

Family Options Fair
This event provides a fun family atmosphere where the community can learn about organizations that are available to provide mentoring, tutoring, after-school programs, life skills, and leadership development for the youth in the Charlotte area. Participating organizations include: the City of Charlotte, Urban League, YMCA, CMPD, Girl Talk Foundation, and more. There will be free pizza from Mr. Jim’s Pizza and other refreshments. And No Grease Barber Shop will be giving out vouchers for free haircuts. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet local elected and public officials. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Stratford Richardson YMCA, 1946 West Blvd., www.facebook.com/centercityymcas.


Monday, August 22

Cuttin' Class - Community Hair Cutting and School Supply Day Presented by The IT Factor Media Group, LLC and No Grease Barber Shop, I've seen this annual event do great things for the community for about three years now. On Monday, they're giving back to the children in the community by providing free haircuts, school supplies, and 1,000 book bags to school-age children in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Plus, Charlotte Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas and New Jersey Nets shooting guard Anthony Morrow will be on-site during the event to sign autographs and take pictures with the children. Complimentary refreshments will be served. For more details, contact Felisha Fletcher, The IT Factor Media Group, 919-247-5973, ff@theitfactormedia.com. 1-7 p.m. Free; RSVP requested for large organizations. No Grease Barber Shop, 1531 Central Ave. www.theitfactormedia.com, www.nogrease.com.

Charlotte Contributes: Project Classroom Come out Monday, have a drink, mix and mingle, and don't forget to bring some school supplies. This charity event for Classroom Central is asking for pencils, pens, one-subject notebooks, dry-erase markers, glue sticks, construction paper, index cards, colored pencils, magic markers, etc. Bring any of the following needed supplies and Charlotte Contributes will buy you a draft beer. Email japrilsmith@gmail.com if you have any questions. 6 p.m. Free. Top Shelf Rooftop Bar at Whiskey Warehouse, 1221 The Plaza, www.classroomcentral.org, www.whiskeycharlotte.com.

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Cam Newton Can Afford a Lot of Haircuts

Now that the NFL lockout has ended, Carolina Panthers number one draft pick Cam Newton signed a four-year, $22 million, all of it guaranteed, contract yesterday. Many of the media outlets are reporting how Cam received far less than last year's number one draft pick, fellow quarterback Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams, who received a six-year, $78 million contract as a rookie, with $50 million guaranteed. If you compare apples to apples, which is the guaranteed money, Cam is getting paid less than half of what Sam got. Cam and all of the 2011 rookies are working under the NFL's new bargaining agreement, a product of the lockout ending, which includes a rookie pay scale that was much needed.

Sam's contract last year was the highest ever for a rookie, and for the past five years or so rookie contracts had really gotten out of hand. If you were drafted in the first round, you were going to get a big payday before you even proved you could play at the next level. And those big contracts could become a heavy burden on a team if the player ended up being a bust. For that, you need to look no further than 2007's number one draft pick, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who signed a $61 million contract, $32 million guaranteed, with the Oakland Raiders. JaMarcus would go on to play three under-performing, losing seasons with the Raiders before being released by the team. He didn't play in the NFL at all last season and, while still only 25 years old, may never again. But he's made at least $32 million, which is more than a lot of players make during an entire career.

But Cam's not sweating all of that, or at least he's not showing it (ESPN: "No complaints from Cam Newton"). In a press conference today during the start of Panthers training camp at Wofford College, Cam said: "Either way you look at it, I've still got more money than I've ever had." And he also made remarks similar to comments from other top 2011 rookies, like Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller, regarding their new pay scale, pretty much saying that if they play the way they're expected to, they'll receive much bigger contracts in the future. Not to mention that Cam has already signed lucrative endorsement deals with brands like Under Armour.

So Cam's not hurting for money, and since arriving to Charlotte he's been doing and saying all the right things. Before leaving to go to Wofford yesterday, he got a haircut on the balcony of his new Charlotte condo. Damian Johnson, co-owner with his twin brother of the local No Grease! Barbershop chain, was the barber of choice, and he posted a few photos on Facebook.

Cam's fresh cut, looking like new money.

The quarterback and his new barber, Damian.

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No Grease! Barbershop Opens at Concord Mills

Twin brothers Damian and Jermaine Johnson continue to expand their No Grease, Inc. franchise. They're now running their fourth No Grease! Barbershop with a new location they opened at Concord Mills last week. The barbershop is located in Neighborhood 5 of the massive outlet mall that's home to more than 200 stores and is North Carolina's most visited tourist attraction with an estimated 17 million visitors a year.

No Grease! recently opened at Concord Mills.

This new location is another milestone for the Johnson brothers, who raised the bar when they opened the No Grease! Exclusive Barbershop at Time Warner Cable Arena in Uptown two years ago. It's become the barbershop of choice for several high-profile clients such as business executives and professional athletes. They've also operated the No Grease! School of Tonsorial Arts, a barber school in east Charlotte, for the last eight years.

I don't know of many other locally owned barbershop franchises in Charlotte so what these guys are doing is sort of uncharted territory, a mission they began when they opened their first shop in 1997 while in their early 20s. I've gotten to know them over the last three or four years and admire not only their business acumen--they head the Urban Business Network (urbanpreneurship.org)--but also how they give back to the community such as the Cuttin' Class Community Hair Cutting Day they hold a couple of times a year in which they give free hair cuts to school children.

Jermaine and Damian Johnson at one of their free community hair cutting days last year (and me in the mirror).

For more on the No Grease! Concord Mills barbershop visit www.nogrease.com or www.concordmills.com.

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Black History Tribute: Pride Entrepreneur Education Program

Each day this week, I'm spotlighting a Charlotte-area person or organization that is making black history.

The Pride Entrepreneur Education Program (PEEP) has been helping prepare African-American youth in Charlotte to become future leaders since it was founded in 2007 by Dee Dixon, owner of Pride Communications. The nonprofit organization has a Career Mentoring Program, in which it pairs high school students with mentors who are successful in the career fields they're interested in. Mentors serve as career advisors for six to 12 months. PEEP also offers a scholarship program, and for the 2010-11 school year it awarded full scholarships to two students to attend Central Piedmont Community College, and it awarded $2,500 scholarships to seven students who are attending various four-year universities.

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of attending the annual PEEP Luncheon the organization held at The Blake Hotel. I was invited to be one of the professionals who would attend and be seated at a table with high school students. I'm so happy I accepted the invitation. The organizers viewed it as us professionals "donating our time" to attend the two-hour program, but I feel that the experience was just as rewarding for me as it was for the students.

Attendees at the 2011 PEEP Luncheon.

There were about 300 Charlotte-Mecklenburg High School students and about 75 or more professionals in attendance, spread across dozens of banquet tables. Seated at my table were five students from Olympic High School and two other professionals--Damian Johnson, co-owner of the No Grease barbershop franchise, and Ashley Jeffers, who works for Vanguard, an investment management company. While we ate a delicious lunch, we had the chance to converse with the students. They asked great questions about our career fields and I was just as interested in learning more about each of them, whom were all seniors.

There was also a four-person panel who spoke to the audience about finding success and achieving goals. Three of the panelists were business owners and the fourth was an executive at Walmart. Each of them shared stories of how they worked hard to get where they are, and also how they took advantage of opportunities that came their way. The students were able to ask the panel questions as well.

This event and the other programs PEEP offers is an important community service and is helping our most valuable asset: our youth. To learn more about PEEP, whether it's to sign up to be a mentor, make a financial contribution, or inquire about a scholarship, visit www.peepcharlotte.org.

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Free Hair Cuts for Kids Today

No Grease Barber Shop and The It Factor Media Group are presenting Cuttin' Class: Community Hair Cutting Day today (August 23), 6-9 p.m. at No Grease School of Tonsorial Arts (4600 Holbrook Drive in east Charlotte). Parents and community groups are encouraged to bring their kids in to get free haircuts by professional barbers. There will also be a few celebrities on hand to sign autographs, including Derrick Brown and Tyrus Thomas from the Charlotte Bobcats. Free food and drinks will also be served.

This is one of several ways No Grease gives back to the community throughout the year. Founded by twin brothers Damian and Jermaine Johnson, they have three locations and a barber college in Charlotte. I attended the Community Hair Cutting Day they held in January and the first thing that came to mind was how great an idea this is, especially at a time when some parents are struggling during this recession. The second thing I thought was that more people should be aware of the next time they hold this because they had the barber shop fully staffed and ready to give as many free haircuts as possible. So spread the word!

Click on flyer for larger view.

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Rock-N-Roll Barbershop Opening in Uptown

I was in Uptown on Friday and as I was heading back to the parking garage at the 121 West Trade building, I saw a sign for The Cut Rock-N-Roll Barbershop that's scheduled to be opening there soon on the first floor. The windows were covered, so I couldn't see what it looked like on the inside, but a poster on one of the windows described the concept. Then I got more info by visiting its website, www.cutbarbershop.com. It's a cool concept, one that combines a lounging, social experience with getting your hair cut or styled. Plus, there's the rock-n-roll edge, which will be exemplified by the music and decor.


The Cut will join Emerson Joseph (Uptown and Ballantyne locations), Roosters Men's Grooming Center (SouthPark and Ballantyne), and No Grease Exclusive (Uptown in Time Warner Cable Arena) in a growing list of trendy and/or upscale barbershops in Charlotte. Hair cuts will start at $18 at The Cut (not bad) and beer will be served while you wait. According to its Facebook page, The Cut is scheduled to open February 12.

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Sadie's Wins a 'Hoodie'

Sadie's Soulful Southern Experience brought home the award for Best Soul Food at the 2009 Hoodie Awards held over the weekend at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The awards, which were created by radio personality/comedian/actor/author Steve Harvey, are in their seventh year.

The Hoodies recognize small businesses and community leaders from neighborhoods around the country with categories like best car wash, soul food, nail shop, barbershop, fried chicken, high school teacher, beauty salon, church choir, and community leader. There's only one winner chosen nationally for each category.

A Charlotte restaurant has won Best Soul Food three years in a row--Sadie's won this year and in 2008, while La'Wan's Soul Food brought home the award in 2007. This year Sadie's beat out the other finalists: Delta’s in New Brunswick, New Jersey; Mama Nems’ in Orlando, Florida; and Bite Your Tongue Cajun Restaurant, which is also located in Charlotte (relocating here from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina).

Plenty of Charlotteans were on hand for the weekend celebration in Las Vegas, including Q92.7's Chirl Girl; Damian and Jermaine Johnson, owners of the No Grease Barbershop chain; and singer Anthony Hamilton, who was an award presenter (pictured below with Nephew Tommy).


There were lots of other celebrities in attendance--many as performers and presenters--such as Terrence J and Rocsi, Sherri Shepard, Mo'Nique, Jazmine Sullivan, Tyler Perry, and, of course, Steve Harvey and his wife Marjorie (pictured below).


Sadie's Soulful Southern Experience is located at 5708 North Sharon Amity Road. Visit www.sadiesoul.com for more info. Click here for the full list of Hoodie Award winners.

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