For Nichole Doss, salons offer more than just a haircut or a facial; they offer a sense of possibility.
“I grew up surrounded by the beauty world,” Nichole said. “My mom was a hairdresser, so I’ve been inspired by salons my whole life.”
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Nichole pursued the beauty industry. After high school, Nichole started her career as a nail tech, before moving into makeup artistry and esthetics. After years of working at salons and studio spaces, Nichole was ready to open her own space.
In 2020, Nichole started looking for her storefront location. Quad Communities Development Corporation, a community and economic development agency supporting the Chicago neighborhoods of Bronzeville, North Kenwood, Oakland, Douglas, and Grand Boulevard, helped Nichole find her new home in Bronzeville and CBQ Facial Beauty Bar opened its doors. The first Black owned facial bar in Bronzeville, CBQ Facial Beauty Bar offers personalized hydro-facial treatments, skin assessments, and educational workshops on skin health.
However, opening a salon at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic proved a challenge. “We were one of the hardest hit industries because we deal with people’s faces,” Nichole said. “The opening was set back a whole year, and we were at a standstill.”
To help with the financial costs of opening, in 2020 Nichole received a Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund loan via the City of Chicago’s emergency loan program that was administered by A4CB and other mission-focused lenders to support businesses in response to the pandemic.
“Trying to move in the middle of a pandemic was stressful for me,” said Nichole. “The loan helped me weather the financial storm to get the equipment needed to open.”
As CBQ Facial Beauty Bar grew, Nichole was in need of additional capital to support this growth. Working with A4CB, Nichole secured grants in 2024 from a Wells Fargo Small Business Grant program and Cook County’s Small Business Source Grant program. These grants helped her invest in new services, equipment, staffing, and community outreach.
In 2025, Nichole participated in the Artisan Entrepreneurs Academy, a six-week program for creative entrepreneurs managed by A4CB and supported by Etsy’s Uplift Fund. The program helped Nichole launch her own line of in-house skincare products including facial cleansers, eczema treatments, and more.
Today, Nichole manages a team of five, four of whom are licensed estheticians. Nichole makes it a point to hire new graduates whom she mentors and provides steady careers for, something Nichole didn’t have herself when she was first starting out. As CBQ Facial Beauty Bar grows, Nichole plans on franchising, adding more employees, and offering more mentorship opportunities.
