Jagged Edge joins Jasper’s downtown businesses

The Kuebler Building in downtown Jasper has a new business.

Amy Goebel opened Jagged Edge Hair Studio at 529 Main Street on December 1.

Amy, 32, took the first step on her lifelong career path while she was in high school. Her friend Dana Berger, also a hair stylist, had recommended Amy apply for a receptionist job at Illusions, another beauty salon in Jasper. While there, she learned to appreciate the work structure the stylists enjoyed.

“And I just fell in love with the independence the career gives you,” she says. “I just loved it.”

Amy attended Tri-State Beauty College in Evansville and began doing hair at Illusions by the time she was 19. “I’ve been doing it since,” she says. “I love my job. I love making people happy or making them feel good. It makes you feel good when you can make someone happy.”

She also finds that she has become a sounding board for her clients. “Sometimes I feel like a therapist, I hear a lot of peoples’ problems,” she laughs. “I love talking and sometimes they tell you everything.”

The decision to jump from her spot at Fringe on the north side of Jasper where she had been for six years was easy when she learned that the Serenity Shop was closing. Amy knew the location downtown and the timing was right for her to step from hairstylist to proprietor.

She contacted the landlord in June but learned she couldn’t get into the store until after the election. The GOP was using it as their election headquarters until then. So, Amy began visiting auctions to collect equipment and furnishings to be ready to move in when they were done.

After the election, Amy and her husband John — Jasper’s head basketball coach — busted their butts to get the building renovated and decorated for opening day. Amy credits John’s hard work and help from friends and family in accomplishing the redecoration, plumbing and electrical work necessary to make it her store in the 20 days. Her self-imposed timeline allowing the store to open on December 1.

“My landlord thought I was crazy when he heard I wanted it up in running by December,” Amy said. “I was worried how John was going to help me. Basketball practice started right when I took possession.”

But they accomplished it and worked through some anxiety attacks as Amy realized the depth of the dive she was taking in moving her business and opening her own store. It’s paying off though; many of her loyal clients followed Amy to her new location and the downtown location has really increased the walk-in traffic.

Two chairs for added stylists sit vacant now but Amy is comfortable with being the only stylist for now. Her new chair is busy with new clients as well as those who have been with her. She picks the music that plays and locks up when she wants. It is the high point of what she set out to accomplish when she decided this was her career path. Her own store in her hometown’s downtown.

“There is so much going on downtown,” Amy says. “I always wanted to get back downtown.”

Illusions, where Amy started her career, is located about two blocks away.

“Now, with the downtown growing and the Astra soon to be something, it is great,” Amy says. “I love coming to work. I plan on staying here until I can’t cut hair anymore.”

Hours are pretty fluid at Jagged Edge but Amy is open for walk-ins Mondays through Fridays generally from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling 812-630-2921. The store has a Facebook page also.