City Looks opens in Gillett

One of the oldest buildings in downtown Gillett is home to the city’s newest business. Angela Blaser opened City Looks by The Barbers in December. Having previously rented a space just down the street, Blaser wanted to own a building and chose a location on Main Street with a lot of foot traffic. A dentist office, eye doctor, restaurant and hardware store are nearby, making it handy for customers, said Blaser, the shop’s owner and manager. It took about six months for her to renovate what once was a barber shop. With the help of her sister, Ellen White, Blaser made it her own. “We had everything down to the studs,” Blaser said. Her husband, Jason, who was away at a construction site, provided moral support and checked the progress when he could. Blaser said she is passionate about her work and wants to keep up with the latest trends. Her client Wendy Freeman said she won’t go anywhere else. “Angela is an artist when it comes to coloring hair and does wonders,” Freeman said. City Looks by The Barbers offers today’s hair styles in yesterday’s atmosphere. The Blasers found paperwork that confirmed the building was sold for the first time in 1856 to Chauncey Baker, who owned several properties in downtown Gillett. Boxes of Winchester shotgun shells were discovered in the attic, testament to the building’s use as a hardware store. Blaser said the previous owners were happy to sell to her because the building would continue to be a place for barbering. The old barber chair was removed during the renovations and is being stored at the Blasers’ home. Blaser graduated in 1989 from the Wisconsin School of Cosmetology of Green Bay. She worked at a salon in Green Bay for a time, took a break and has been back in the business for 12 years. Her previous salon was One Classic Look. In addition to a hair salon, City Looks by The Barbers offers a stand-up tanning booth. According to Blaser, stand-up beds are better than traditional beds because they give a better tan in a shorter time. In addition, a stand-up bed takes up less room in her salon. A nail salon at City Looks features acrylic tips, artificial nails and nail art.