“I had faith,” she explained. “I knew I would be OK.”
In her new location, known to locals as the old Second Hand Rose shop front, Jacobs recently sat on the wide windowsill and looked across Mason Street to the naked site where the building that housed her hair studio, Bounce Color & Cut, once stood. She recalled the day in the spring of 2011 when the corner of Mason and Maine streets was forever changed by fire.
Five businesses, including hers, were destroyed and nearly 20 people who rented apartments on the upper floors were displaced. Fortunately, no one sustained injuries in that early morning blaze and everyone was able to relocate and make an attempt to recover from the life-changing event.
For Jacobs, a single mom who has a grown daughter with autism, the months immediately after the fire became a time of introspection as she reassessed her life.
Living up to the name she had once chosen for her salon, Jacobs “bounced” back, spending that summer weeding the gardens at North Creek Farm in Phippsburg, housecleaning, and eventually returning to her vocation as a hair stylist.
She started on the path back to “normal” by renting a chair at Tranquility Salon & Spa on the Bath Road in Brunswick, where she was able to reclaim her skills, serving clients both old and new, and working among wonderful, supportive people.
“Looking back, right after the fire I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do, but I decided to look at it as an opportunity,” said Jacobs.
As she forged ahead, she found out that the old Second Hand Rose space near her old location was available, and took a leap of faith that has landed her squarely on her own two feet.
“I’ve never done retail; I was used to people just coming in to my hair studio for an appointment, seeing me ‘on purpose,’” she said. “Having the shop is very different from that. The way I see it, the town needed more retail businesses and Brunswick has always been my community. This end of Maine Street is my ‘hood.’”
Jacobs, who grew up in rural Maine and now lives in Bath, added that her daughter, Sophie, was homeschooled and this part of town was in the landscape of her childhood as well. Furthermore, she had a desire to find a way to give back to the people who had supported her when she had her hair studio across the way and especially wanted to stay connected to those who saw her through during the fire’s aftermath.
She said, “I wanted to have a place where I could do hair, but more than that, I wanted to support local artists and have a place where people could get inspired, gather to chitchat, and be creative in a way that’s challenging and fun. I have my hair studio tucked in the back, which is my safety net, especially in the winter months. But it’s all eclectic and unique. That’s why I call it ‘The Mix.’”
Immediately upon stepping inside, visitors to Jacob’s village mercantile can see why it serves as one of the brackets holding up that end of Maine Street. It has a great location with parking spots right out front. With its eye-catching signage and colorful banner, the shop is next door to the well-known Henry & Marty’s Restaurant and is a hop, skip and jump from two longtime Brunswick institutions, Frosty’s Donuts and Morning Glory Natural Foods.
In a spirit of delight and gratitude, Jacobs welcomes old friends and new into The Mix, a place that she says truly reflects her personality — which anyone can see is vivacious, curious and compassionate.
Filling the void left by her friend Kat Logan, who closed Maine Street Art to move up the coast to Friendship a few years back, Jacobs carries a varied choice of art supplies for all ages, listening closely to her loyal customers and newcomers alike for suggestions as she expands her inventory to accommodate the artist in all of us. Among the supplies are all manner of functional art that Jacobs purchases from local craftspeople, including clothing, jewelry, toys, greeting cards and décor for the home and garden.
Jacobs is always lightheartedly changing up “the mix,” as she discovers new artists and they discover her. “I love when artists come in with their wares. I wish I could buy everything, but I can give suggestions where people can go if I can’t take it myself,” she said.
One of the intrepid entrepreneur’s challenges comes in the form of arranging appointments for her salon clientele around her retail customers. So far, she’s managed by scheduling hair appointments for two days a week and one Saturday a month. “I’m lucky that my regular clients are so forgiving when a shopper wanders in,” said Jacobs.
Her plans for the coming year include continuing to grow the art supply inventory and offer more learning opportunities in the back space of the shop, such as Ravenhead Creations Cast Glass Workshops. She’ll also carry on her mission of supporting local artists, and continue to host Salt + Sea, a local fresh fish CSA where members can stop in every Friday evening to pick up the catch of the week.
Whether participating in Portland’s Roller Derby Lite in her spare time, skating the bike path, or honing her silver-smithing techniques, the fun-loving Jacobs, who will turn the big 5-0 this summer, is proud to say that the eclectic amalgam offered at her shop is simply a reflection of, well, herself.
She concluded, “I’m fortunate to have work that I love in a neighborhood that’s so helpful and close-knit. I’m really happy. I believe that if you do something good, it circulates and comes back to you. There’s an ebb and flow. It really is all about ‘the mix!’”
The Mix is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Earlier or later by chance.
To make a hair appointment or call for more information, you may reach The Mix at 725-2271.
KAREN SCHNEIDER, of West Bath, is a freelance writer. She can be reached at iwrite33@comcast.net.
The Mix info
THE MIX in Brunswick is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Earlier or later by chance.
To make a hair appointment or call for more information, you may reach The Mix at 725-2271.
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