Grand opening celebrations took place at the Albert Street Plaza May 13. Celebrating full occupancy were, from left, Kristen’s Pharmacy’s Kristen Watt, Subway’s Eric Heinrich and HAIR’s Elyse Hutchin.

Hub Staff

The Albert Street Plaza in Southampton has reached maximum occupancy and celebrated with a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting May 13. Subway, Kristen’s Pharmacy and now HAIR, an Aveda Salon, held special promotions throughout the day to mark the occasion.

Plaza and Subway owner Eric Heinrich said it felt “really good” to have every space filled. “We built this building two yeas ago and we’ve been searching and waiting for the perfect tenants and we found them,” said Heinrich, adding “they’re very dedicated entrepreneurs, they each have a strong family team behind them and it was nice to see them put their businesses together and I’m positive that they'll be successful.”

See: Kristen’s Pharmacy coming to Southampton

Newest addition to the plaza HAIR, owned by Eylse Hutchin, has a contemporary feel with soothing colours in the large open space. Hutchins attended the Aveda Institute and Academy in Calgary in 2013. “The beginning program teaches you all the rules, the second program teaches you how to break all of them,” said Hutchin May 13. HAIR has two stylists, Hutchins and Becca Rooke, and has space for an aesthetician. “If the right aesthetician comes along, we’re happy with having her join our team.”

Hutchin said she chose the space in the Albert Street location because it was a clean slate. “When I took it over it had a dirt floor, so I was able to put the plumbing where I needed, all the electrical, I really had full control over the space and how it came to be,” she said, adding she thought the location was a good fit, offering more visibility than downtown.

The ribbon cutting was attended by Vice-Deputy Mayor Diane Huber. Huber lives in Southampton and was happy to have the variety of stores in the plaza. Huber said she often visits Subway after council, will use Kristen’s Pharmacy and told those in attendance that she has already booked an appointment at HAIR.

On the left, Pharmacist Kristen Watt is the owner of Kristen’s Pharmacy. On the right, hairstylist Elyse Hutchin is the owner of HAIR - Aveda Salon.

The new salon opened May 1 in the Albert Street Plaza on Highway 21 in Southampton

Vice-Deputy Mayor Diane Huber (right) addressed the crowd before the ribbon cutting ceremony May 13 in Southampton.

Taking part in the ribbon cutting and grand opening at the Albert Street Plaza in Southampton May 13 were Eric Watt, holding son John, Kristen Watt holding son Leo; Elyse Hutchin and Eric Heinrich.