We had the good fortune of connecting with Hayley Gregory and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hayley, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I moved back home to Tennessee from Savannah, I wanted to work in a salon that had the best attributes from the salons I had worked in and cosmetology schools I had taught in while I lived in Asheville, Charlotte and Savannah. How did I know a salon had those characteristics? I booked an appointment and visited as a client. This was the only real way for me to see what kind of salon experience they offered.

I was unable to find the kind of salon experience I was hoping to find. I decided to make the drive over the mountain to my previous salon home in Asheville. I did this for several months until the former owner decided to sell the building now called Deluxe on Depot.

Before putting the building on the market, the former owner approached my family to purchase it. My family owns The Greeneville Antique Market beside the salon. The former owner knew my parents would keep her shop as a storefront and take care of it. Deluxe was built in 1913 as Palace barber shop and has the original floors, tin ceilings and other details. It’s a special place she wanted protected. Who better than antiques dealers, right?

My parents didn’t want it for themselves, but they were tired of me driving the mountain and saw what a great salon it could be for me. We bought the building and transformed it from stained glass and jewelry shop to the salon space. The original barber shop, Palace, is still in business today at a different location, so I couldn’t take that name back for the salon. Instead, I named it after the Palace’s sister salon that was located just two doors down, Deluxe. Their tag line was, “we’ll please you” and that was just perfect to me.

I started my own business so I could have the type of place I’d want to both receive services as a client and work as a stylist in Greeneville. I didn’t know how hard, stressful, expensive, scary, overwhelming, delightful, rewarding, and wonderful it would be, and I’m glad. If I had known all that I know now, I might have been too scared to jump in and try to do a salon my way. Doing it my way has been a blessing for the last seven years and I’m excited for many more to come.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love crafting hairstyles that match people’s vibe and vision. I offer private appointments and the focus is solely on my clients. I want to connect, communicate and create with them. Creating my own private salon sanctuary space comes after being in the industry close to 20 years, it did not come overnight. I’m most proud that my space is a welcoming, relaxing, inclusive salon that offers ecoluxe, vegan products and strives to keep the planet and your hair as healthy as possible. I also learned to turn a deaf ear to the naysayers, you absolutely can provide luxury services in a small town, people everywhere want to be pampered!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
What a week we’d have! We’d first start at the motherland, Dollywood. Of course we’d ride everything, Wild Eagle twice, and eat our way through the park. Then we’d do a drive through the back roads to see all the Parton/Owenses landmarks. That’s a full day, so we’re stopping at Pal’s for dinner and enjoying every single frenchie fry.

Day two, we’re off the the Virginia Highlands to hike The Channels. This hike can’t be missed, it is spectacular and there’s nothing else like it in our region. Afterwards, we’ll head back home and stop in Abingdon to shop the town and eat at White Birch Kitchen. When we get home, we’ll pick up a pizza from County Line Pie and head over to Rock City Tap and Lounge to eat, have a drink, sit by the fire pit and play cornhole.

Day three, we’re headed to Hot Springs! First, we will hike Max Patch. It’s an easy hike/walk (especially after the Channels!) and offers phenomenal 360 views. Once that’s done, we’ll head to Spring Creek Tavern for food and drinks, then we’ll shop the stores while we stroll over to Hot Springs Spa. There, we’ll soak in the mineral baths and soothe our hiking muscles. We’ll head home and visit the General Morgan Inn for dinner and drinks before we see a movie at the Capitol Theater.

Day four and we’re going to Knoxville and to hang out with a Day Pass at Ancient Lore Village. We’re going to axe throw, eat delicious food, enjoy fairy gardens, hike and everything they have to offer. That night, we’ll visit the Old City and Marketplace Square and explore all the fun things Knoxville has to offer.

Day five and we’re going to Marshall. We’re going to start at Mad Co Brewing outside on the deck, overlooking the river. We’ll eat and drink then walk down to Of Wand& Earth to shop, maybe get our auras read and definitely buy some incense and candles. We’ll visit the galleries downtown and then we’ll walk over to Ivy and Poet for dessert and Zumas for coffee. We’ll eat and drink while we sit by the bridge and watch the river. We’ll head home and enjoy a show at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center and have a late dinner at home.

Day six and we’re going to hike Graveyard Fields. This is a spectacular high altitude hike that offers scenic views and waterfalls. This is a hike that allows outsiders the opportunity to see all the microcosms and climates these majestic mountains offer. We’ll hike and enjoy a picnic at the falls. We’ll head home and stop at Iron Horse in Hot Springs for dinner. That night, we’ll take a walking ghost tour of Greeneville.

Day seven and we’re staying in town for an easy hike at Margarette Falls and
a picnic lunch. After that, we’ll come back to town and swing by Creamy Cup for ice cream and coffee and we’ll enjoy it as we walk through the beautiful campus of Tusculum University and the Tusculum Linear trail before we say our see you next times!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
McDowell Technical Community College gave me a solid foundation in cosmetology at an affordable price. MTCC offered Pivot Point International education at community college price that made my career accessible to me. I already had a degree from East Tennessee State University and couldn’t take on more student loans to go to a private cosmetology school. Thankfully, MTCC offered night programs I could afford while I worked my corporate day job and they even allowed me to pay tuition as I went. Without them, I’d never have been able to go to cosmetology school.

Website: www.hairbydeluxe.com

Instagram: deluxeondepot and deluxebrides

Facebook: Deluxe on Depot

Image Credits
Primrose and Marigold Mitchell Hancock photography Melissa Hankins Maypop Media

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.