Eight Ten Nail Bar’s Natalie and Alex Kadie bring style and customer service to Downtown Flint
Natalie Kadie, a licensed nail tech for nearly twenty years, and her husband Alex opened Eight Ten Nail Bar in the heart of Downtown Flint in 2018. Providing creative and custom beauty services as a nail salon, complementary wine and an appointment-based system to ensure clients can get in before major events, their foundation is rooted in customer service. Natalie was laser focused on the detailed manicure she was providing while somehow splitting her brain and doing the interview with complete clarity — a true talent.
“I was already hanging out downtown when it was only one club, The Metropolis, and my friend was teaching me how to skateboard back when I was sixteen. I’ve always had a connection with downtown and Flint in general,” says Natalie Kadie. “We moved our shop here because we wanted to be a part of Downtown Flint. My boys turned eighteen and were going away to Ferris State and I wanted something else to do with my life. We lived downtown, we love it here, maybe we could open a business down here?”
In addition to Natalie’s expertise and craft, Eight Ten Nail Bar makes sure they educate their clients on proper maintenance and healthy habits.
“I will say we do try to educate our clients on proper techniques and approaches to this when they’re getting their nails done,” says Alex Kadie, part-owner and daily operations. “Sometimes, you know, the client may not always be able to come in here. If they go somewhere else and they’re not doing their sanitary practices and whatnot you need to be vigilant with these things or you can end up with a fungus. If you know what to look for, you know how to protect yourself.”
When asked what they love most about the city the answer was unanimously the people. It’s the community and neighborhood feeling they’ve always wanted living somewhere, so it’s only natural they’d be regulars around town and shout out their favorite spots.
“One place that we collectively like is The Cork. We really like the drinks there,” says Alex. “We also like The Eberson because they have good drinks, customer service and the 80s nostalgia with the arcade games. You get to relive some moments in time.“
Natalie smiled and chimed in with an extensive list of her own, showcasing their true love of the city and everyone in it.
“We like 501 and Soggy Bottom, just like the fact that it feels like it’s part of your neighborhood and they know your drink when you walk in, we love that. We go to Refinery (Hair Co.) because it’s another great salon and we cross promote with them a lot. I went over to Beauty Affair and got my makeup done before I went to TOAST and that was pretty dope. I just like being able to walk to all these places. I love the Coffee Beanery and their frappes.”
Other than offering a truly unique nail salon experience, the Kadies also believe in the power of family. Natalie Kadie’s own sister is a business owner right down the street.
“My sister owns a business downtown as well in the Flint Farmers Market called Spectacular Spudz and we both decided to open businesses downtown during the water crisis, which was unheard of,” says Natalie. “People told us we were crazy and it’s not gonna work, it’s not gonna make any money and who’s gonna come downtown? Look at us now. That’s all I can say.”
You can make an appointment at Eight Ten Nail Bar 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by heading to their Facebook and clicking the BOOK NOW tab.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Eight-Ten-Nail-Bar-184867365568010/
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/eighttennailbar
