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HOGANSVILLE – When walking in downtown Hogansville, it’s hard not to be drawn to the Grand Hotel, the town’s oldest surviving, and one might say most attractive, building. The renovated building now has an additional business— the Grand Barber.

The Grand Barber officially opened Saturday, July 23, with a warm welcome by Hogansville leaders and residents. The shop, upon entry, reflects the neighboring hotel’s classic appearance, a very cautious and detail-oriented decision by co-owners and brother and sister duo Taylor Vold and Randy Smart. While Vold handles the customers, Smart handles the corporate side of the business. 

“We wanted to keep a very old-school, classic design,” Smart said. “Everything from how we chose our color schemes to the font and the chairs we used was meant to keep the area as classic as possible. I wanted it to be an extension of the hotel.” 

The Grand Barber purposely does not have televisions in order to keep the vibe of the shop, Smart said. One of the owners’ favorite aspects of the shop includes incorporating several wooden theater chairs for guests to wait on, which they found at an antique shop in Forsyth.

It’s Vold, however, who’s the star of the show. Vold is a certified barber with over 10 years experience in the field, and the services she offers in her shop reflect the trade — buzz cuts, trims and maintenance-style haircuts. She additionally offers membership packages where customers can pay for maintenance haircuts of shaves in bulk. 

Vold’s skill in the trade lies in barbering, and she does not perform coloring hair services.

“I like working with my hands and honing skills,” she said. “When I started [barbering,] I got really into it. I like the intricacy of the haircuts. I like the fades and the little bit of pride you get after you give a really good haircut.” 

Prior to opening the Grand Barber, Vold worked at a barber shop in Newnan. It was via an invitation from Hogansville Mayor Jake Ayers that had her and her brother both packed up shop and headed to Hogansville.

“It gave me a lot of courage to branch out when I saw all the construction going on in the community,” Smart said. “Seeing the upgrades and businesses coming into the downtown area was very reassuring.” 

The deciding point for Vold was indeed the hotel and, she noted, how it set off the vibe for the rest of the area.

“It really is like stepping back in time, but it doesn’t feel like a gimmick, it’s authentic,” she said. “When I saw it, I knew I wanted to be here.”

For more information about the Grand Barber, visit https://www.thegrandbarber.com/.