Hidden Gems: Meet Melody Geer of Holiday Salon and Bathhouse

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melody Geer. 

Hi Melody, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Although I was born right here in Tennessee, I spent most of my years in Oregon as a hairstylist and part-time garment maker. I went straight from high school to behind the chair in 2000. I worked for a few great salons before going out on my own once I bought my first house in 2015. I turned the addition into a one-chair salon. It was full of light and super cozy but got a bit lonely after a while. I missed the banter and inspiration that comes from having co-workers. 

In 2015 I opened Holiday (now referred to as Little Holiday) in the North Nashville Buenavista neighborhood. A four-chair salon where my absolute favorite Nashville stylists came to join me. We worked hard, laughed a lot, and ate plenty of Slim and Husky’s pizza, which had opened their first location next door. 

Feeling ready to retire from doing hair after a 20-year stint I began plotting my next steps. I had always wanted to bring the bathhouse culture I loved so much in Oregon to Nashville but wanted to still be a part of the hair industry. In 2020 Holiday Salon & Bathhouse was born. Hair, massage, body treatments, facial services, hair removal, airbrush tanning, and of course the bathhouse. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Where there ever. As ambitious as I was, I quickly learned that no one wants to give money to you if you’re not worth much. I though since I’d owned a house and had a small, yet successful business for 5 years that getting a loan wouldn’t be too hard. I quickly learned just how naive I was. I met with bank after bank over the year with no luck. I felt completely heartbroken and defeated. I knew that Nashville would love to have a bathhouse even though it seemed like a lot of people didn’t quite get it. If only someone would give me a chance, I just knew it would work! 

I reached out to another bank and they agreed to meet with me. I wore my best get-up and met Matthew at Cafe Roze for a meeting. I showed him my chicken scratch of a plan and it worked! It was a long process with many panic attacks and sleepless nights but in the end, they loaned me the money. I had to put my house and everything I owned on the line but I was willing to take the chance. I truly believed in this and was willing to do anything to bring it into fruition. 

As any business owner knows, buildout is extremely stressful. Waiting ages on permits just to get started, construction hick-ups, supply chain issues, and possibly the worst of all the inspections. “Ma’am you’re going to have to rip out the floor there. Need’s to be 1/4 inch lower” (Insert head exploding emoji) I could go on and on about the craziness of opening this place but we did it! We opened July 2020 right in the height of Covid. 

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I learned to never take no for an answer, trust your gut and keep good company. 

Pricing:

• 60-minute custom massage $115
• 2-hour bathhouse session $200
• 60-minute custom facial $145
• Women’s haircut $65

Contact Info:

• Email: info@holidaynashville.com
• Website: https://www.holidaynashville.com/
• Instagram: holidaynashville

Image Credits
Bob Butler