Hair Cuttery plans to trim its portfolio

The Hair Cuttery in the Seven Corners Shopping Center.

The Ratner Cos., the owner of the Hair Cuttery chain and other salons, plans to close about 10 percent of its stores beginning this month.

According to a Jan. 16 press release, the decision to close stores follows “a comprehensive evaluation of its locations that took into account historical and recent performance and the timing of lease expirations.”

The company isn’t able to share a list of the salons targeted for closing at this point, “as we are working through this with our landlords,” says spokesperson Diane Daly.

The first Hair Cuttery was founded in 1974 in West Springfield by Dennis and Ann Ratner. The company currently operates 844 salons nationwide under the names Bubbles, Salon Cielo, Salon Plaza, and Cibu, as well as Hair Cuttery.

There are five Hair Cuttery salons in the Annandale/Mason District area, at 7407 Little River Turnpike, 6345 Columbia Pike in Barcroft Plaza, 6290 Seven Corners Center, 7263 Arlington Blvd., and 8190 Strawberry Lane in the Mosaic District in Merrifield.

Among those salons, the one on Arlington Boulevard seems most likely to close as it’s in Graham Park Plaza which is slated to be replaced by a townhouse development.

The store closings are are part of a plan “to lower our costs and focus on our best-performing locations,” states Ratner President Phil Horvath.

“Due to intense competition and rising operating costs, we have engaged in discussions with certain landlords to renegotiate terms or exit some of our leases,” Horvath says. “We have been pleased so far with the cooperation from the landlord community. We believe the actions we’re taking will help ensure the health and resilience of our business for years to come.”

“The plan addresses pressures facing the larger service and retail industry, including high labor costs and shifting consumer shopping behaviors,” the press release states. Ratner Cos. has been closing up to 5 percent of its locations each year as leases on lesser-performing salons expire.

The company is offering affected employees jobs at other salons and suggests some stylists might want to start their own business at a Salon Plaza, which rents space to independent professionals.