Meet Kent Tench! Kent is a longtime Gainesville resident and co-owner of Imperial Salon, just off the downtown Gainesville square.
He has lived in Hall County since 1979 and said he became a hairdresser because “it runs in the family.”
“I have an uncle that is a hairdresser in Atlanta, then my grandfather and my great uncle both did some barbering on the side and I have several cousins that are hairdressers. One cousin owned The Three Bears, or something like that, out of Clarks Bridge Road, a beauty salon-restaurant combination.”
We want to thank Kent for spending a few minutes with us recently to tell us more about himself and his love of Hall County.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your career?
Answer: “It runs in the family. I have an uncle that is a hairdresser in Atlanta, then my grandfather and my great uncle both did some barbering on the side and I have several cousins that are hairdressers. One cousin owned The Three Bears, or something like that, out of Clarks Bridge Road, a beauty salon-restaurant combination.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County and what do you get there?
A: “Probably, Yellow Fin and I usually split and order of oysters and an order of their steamed shrimp.”
Q: What do you like about owning a business on the square?
A: “Where we used to work there was no foot traffic and no windows and here there is constantly foot traffic and sometimes I’ll run out in the street if I see someone I know and say hello. There’s just a lot more energy that has come back. It’s as lively as it can be.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Hall County?
A: “The first person that comes to mind, and I think she’s one of the kindest, sweetest people ever is Kayanne Massey. Kayanne is still one of the prettiest Miss Georgia’s we’ve ever had.”
Q: What is one of your favorite childhood memories?
A: “I think, easily the first time we went to San Francisco. We went the summer between fourth and fifth grade and it was of the Haight-Ashbury period. And there were hippies everywhere and living in Clarkesville, Ga, I had never seen anything like that. That was in 1969 and I fell in love with the long hair. Most people in Gainesville will tell you most of my adult life I had long hair.”
Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
A: “I would go to Spain, I went to Barcelona once and fell in love with the architecture and I would love to go to some of the other cities because I love the architecture, the people, the food, everything.”
Q: What three bands would you want to see dead or alive?
A: “Donna Summer, The Rolling Stones and Queen.”
Q: When you think about Gainesville, what local business makes you feel nostalgic?
A: “I would say The Collegiate.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “Easy, the people.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “Right here. Working until I’m 84 and then some.”
Q: What is something interesting about you that some people don’t know?
A: “I love shoes…I love platform shoes. So, I’ve actually have several pairs of platforms. I wore them when I was in Dancing for a Cause.”
Q: What are three words mean HOME to you?
A: “Love, serenity and food.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.