Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandi Kelloway.
Mandi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a Jacksonville girl through and through, and I’ve spent the last 25 years doing what I love in the beauty industry. Four years ago, I took over San Marco Strands from my mom and finally got to do something I had dreamed about since I was a little girl. I renamed it Salon on the Southbank, because that name had lived in my heart for as long as I can remember.
This year, I got to take it even further. I moved the salon from our building on Hendricks Avenue into an iconic space…The Redi Arts Building! It was portioned out and I took over the stand alone building that faces Kings Avenue, and then I completed a full buildout that transformed it into something so much bigger than a hair salon. Allen Stephens of Kings Avenue Properties, building owner, was instrumental in making that happen, and the Downtown Investment Authority’s grant funding helped turn this space into something truly special. Salon on the Southbank at 1038 Kings Ave is now a full-service hair and wellness destination offering luxury head spa treatments, scalp renewal services, esthetics facials, massage, lymphatic drainage, reflexology, spray tanning, and so much more is to come. I even have a dedicated wellness suite inside the salon where a licensed mental health professional is available to clients, because I believe real self-care goes a lot deeper than the surface. I also run Once Upon a Stylist, my on-site bridal hair business, because getting to be part of a bride’s wedding day never gets old.
But the salon is just one piece of who I am. I founded the Just For Grins Foundation to support girls, like myself, born with cleft lip and palate, because every little girl deserves to know she is beautiful. My husband Jason and I co-founded Cup of Love Ministry back in 2014, and we have been serving Jacksonville’s homeless community ever since with weekly and monthly outreaches. My husband Jason and I also co-own Social Grounds Coffee Roasters, a veteran-rooted coffee brand born right here in Jacksonville. Two Jax natives, just trying to make a difference in our community, one cup at a time.
I pour into people. That’s just what I do, whether you’re in my chair or sitting across from me at a table on the street.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, no road worth taking is ever perfectly smooth. We had our share of construction delays, and getting the layout right, especially making sure everything was ADA compliant while still flowing the way I envisioned, took more time and problem-solving than I expected. But I am a firm believer that the delays were worth it, because the finished space is exactly what I dreamed it would be. Some things just take the time they take, and you learn to trust the Lord and the process. And to definitely make sure that I always have my Popeyes sweet tea in one hand and a beach bum from tropical smoothie in the other. LOL
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Salon on The SouthBank?
Salon on the Southbank is a full-service hair salon and wellness studio located at 1038 Kings Ave in Jacksonville. We are not your average salon. Yes, we do beautiful hair, and that will always be the heartbeat of what we do, but we have built something here that goes well beyond a cut and color.
We specialize in lived-in color, precision cuts, and healthy hair, and we back that up with services most salons simply do not offer. Our head spa treatments are some of my personal favorites, full scalp care experiences that combine deep cleansing, massage, and targeted treatments for scalp health and hair growth. We also offer scalp renewal services, esthetics facials, reflexology foot soaks, massage, lymphatic drainage, and spray tanning through our VersaSpa Pro system. And tucked right inside our salon is a dedicated wellness suite where a licensed mental health professional sees clients, because I have always believed that true self-care is not just about how you look on the outside.
What sets us apart is the experience. From the moment you walk in, this place is meant to feel like a retreat. We are intentional about every detail: the environment, the products we use, the services we offer, and the people we hire.
And when it comes to the people, I have to brag for a second. I have had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented stylists on the planet, and I mean that. Over 20 years in this industry, side by side, and I am still in awe. The loyalty their clients show them says everything. When people follow a stylist for years, sometimes decades, that is not just good hair. That is trust, and relationship, and someone who genuinely cares. It is an honor to have them here, and our clients feel that the moment they sit down.
We are also deeply committed to supporting our local maker community. Our retail shelves are stocked with products from small businesses and local makers right here in Jacksonville, because if we are going to sell something in our space, we want it to mean something. Supporting other small businesses is just part of who we are, and we love being able to give our clients access to products they cannot find just anywhere.
Brand wise, I am most proud of the fact that we built something that reflects our values. This salon is faith-centered, community-rooted, and genuinely invested in the wellbeing of every person who walks through our doors. That is just who we are, not just some marketing line.
I also want readers to know that we have membership options available, so if you want to make self-care a regular part of your life without breaking your budget, we have built programs designed to do exactly that.
Salon on the Southbank is a place where you can come as you are, get taken care of from the inside out, and leave feeling like yourself again. That is what we are here for.
Any big plans?
The future is something I get genuinely excited talking about. We are still in our first year in this new space, and we are already looking ahead at what comes next.
One of my biggest passions right now is hair restoration and scalp health, and I want to go deeper into that space in a real, clinical way. That means expanding into scalp microneedling with medical-grade protocols and IV therapy, services that require a medical director on board. We are actively working toward bringing that partnership together, and as we move closer to fall of this year, Salon on the Southbank will begin to take on more of a med spa feel alongside everything we already offer. I believe scalp health is one of the most overlooked pieces of overall wellness, and I want us to be the place in Jacksonville where people come when they are serious about getting real results. Think about it this way: the scalp is the soil. Just like a plant cannot thrive with a neglected root system, your hair cannot reach its full potential without a healthy foundation underneath it. We take that seriously here, and the services and products we offer reflect that commitment from the ground up.
Beyond that, I just want to keep growing the community we are building here. The wellness suite, the membership programs, the treatment offerings, all of it is pointing toward something bigger. I want Salon on the Southbank to be known as the place where women come to be restored, not just refreshed.
We are just getting started, and honestly, that is the most exciting part!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://salononthesouthbank.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salononthesouthbank/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salononthesouthbank/
Image Credits
Head Shot: Monika Colichio
Salon Photos: Avince “AJ” Benito
