Hair styles and fashion under one roof. A husband and wife have expanded their full-service salon to include a coffee, wine and champagne bar, and a clothing boutique.
It seems like the perfect marriage – the union of women’s clothing, accessories and shoes with a full-service salon, a place to shop while hair dye sets. Ric and Raquel Watters, the husband and wife team behind RikRak in Brickell, combined their two passions: his for hair, hers for fashion, at their Brickell hot spot. Originally opening the salon at a smaller Brickell location in 1989 with a play on their names (he’s Rik, she’s Rak) Raquel says it took her a few years to convince her husband to let her do some shopping and sell some clothes in the store.
Sounds like a typical marriage, doesn't it?
Their former spot, a few blocks away, was only 2,100 square feet and had a staff of 20. Raquel, a Cuban native, who grew up in New York and eventually came to Miami, owned a clothing boutique in Coral Gables. During one of her shop’s fashion shows, she met Ric, an artist turned hair stylist. After they married, they teamed up to open RikRak, but Raquel always wanted to incorporate clothing into the mix. Seven years into the biz, Raquel finally got her wish; to start selling women’s clothing and accessories. She kept a smaller selection at their original location, but expanded when they moved to their current spot just over a year ago. Now their 5,500-square-foot location is filled with more pieces: a room with shoes, handbags, dresses, clothing. Other pieces are sprinkled around the salon, placed on tables or racks. “I love it,” says Ric of having his wife run her end of their business. “It’s what’s propelled this spot.” Women coming in for haircuts and manicures peruse pieces as they wait. “I love the salon and the way it caters to the client,” says regular Clara Collado. “It’s like a new way to do a salon – a whole new concept.” Also added to the new and larger space: a European coffee bar that also sells wine, champagne and little gourmet treats. Apart from the clothing and the hair styling (Ric is best known for his nice touch on color), the salon offers everything from facials, manicures with steaming towels and essential oils, pedicures with fruits and salts, a full tanning salon and hair extensions among other things. “I think they’re a great pair together. Running a place like this together is great,” says Terry Thal, a regular customer.
RikRak is at 1428 Brickell Ave., Miami, 305-471-5577; a second spot is located at 1441 Brickell Ave. at the Sports Club LA in the Four Seasons Hotel, 305-381-3981.