The east side of Main Street, between 7th and 8th streets, has an all-new look. Seen here is the new portion of Emanuel Custom Welding. The dirt log immediately north (left) of the building is the future home of the Red Bricks Hair Chix salon.

Downtown block getting a face lift

by Mary Le Arneal
Published 9/5/12

The final blemish from the Dec. 28, 2009, fire that destroyed four businesses on Main Street is now being erased.

Jason and Kara Hellbusch have purchased the northern 22 feet, site of the former Pour House Bar, from Jake and Cindy Limbach. The rest of the area destroyed by the fire was purchased by Roch Emanuel for the expansion of his welding shop, which is nearing completion.

The Hellbusches plan to build a new hair salon for Kara’s business, Red Brick Hair Chix. Kara and Amanda Hanis will eventually be moving from their property that they rent on west Highway 30.

Jason, a flooring contractor, will be doing most of the construction. He said the building will be 22 feet by 66 feet with vinyl siding and red bricks along the front lower four feet. They are waiting for final plans from the architect before making some decisions. The building will need to built as much as three feet above street level to get high enough over the flood plain to meet federal regulations and keep flood insurance premiums reasonable. Jason was not sure how that will effect the overall design or entry.

The remaining cement left from the Pour House foundation was removed last week. The Hellbusches would like to have the salon open by Jan. 1.

Not including Emanuel’s addition, the Red Brick Hair Chix building will be the first new building in downtown North Bend in decades.

“Once the foundation is poured, it should go pretty fast,” Jason said, “but there are a lot of variables.”

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