A new hair salon took up the space formerly occupied by Debbie’s Grand Gallery. The gallery, at the corner of West Grand Avenue and Fernote Street, closed earlier this year.

Beyond Perfection Total Hair Care is only about a block away from Rahway Barber Shop, which opened last summer. If you’re wondering how a salon could open so close to a barber shop, you’re not alone. Almost two years ago, the Redevelopment Agency rejected a zoning overlay request to allow a full service salon on Irving Street, within the Arts District and within 1,000 feet of a similar business.

The city prohibits personal service businesses within 1,000 feet of each other, but that only applies to the B-4 (Service Business) zone, which is where the Irving Street space is located.

The West Grand Avenue salon is in a B-1 zone (Neighborhood Business), while Rahway Barber Shop is located in an R-2 zone (Medium Density Single-Family Residential). The salon also is a pre-existing non-conforming use, which is allowed, according to Richard Watkins, city construction official.

A couple of other retail/commercial moves to catch up on this summer:
* Def Def, what appears to be an urban men’s clothing store, opened on Main Street in June, replacing Charlie’s Flowers, which closed and left the space in February.
* Shake It Up Nutrition Club opened in a space on Elizabeth Avenue.

Anyone notice any others? Check back next week for an update on some tenants coming to downtown later this year.

Not related to redevelopment, but it’s pretty cool when a local resident plays in the NFL. Check out this training camp story on Antonio Garay with the San Diego Chargers.