Motorcycle and beauty enthusiasts can unite at the newly opened Chop Shop salon, located inside the Marshalltown Mall. Owners Karen and Jeremy Sireno have teamed up to provide clients with a laid back atmosphere offering hair cut/color, nail, waxing, makeup and men’s hair and beard services.

While Karen has been in the beauty business for 26 years, Jeremy is a newcomer to the profession.

“I was in the wireless industry for a decade,” he said. “I would come home from work frustrated but she was happy, so I decided to go to cosmetology school.”

While Karen has run other salons, this is the couple’s first joint venture. After Jeremy graduated from Iowa School of Beauty in February, he went straight into construction work getting the salon ready for its debut. As motorcycle buffs, the pair decided to decorate the place with motorcycle pictures and the hair dryers are shaped like helmets. The shop’s name comes from the “chopper” motorcycle.

“Marshalltown Mall is very excited to add the Chop Shop to our family of retailers/services for our community,” said mall general manager Ken Huge. “It’s always a pleasure to help folks like Karen and Jeremy open up their ‘own location.’ The Sirenos did a marvelous job of making the space their own, and we look forward to a continuing partnership with them.”

Karen and Jeremy are both certified to provide cuts, colors, nails and waxing services, each working from their own stations in the shop. Karen also offers ear piercing. Makeup services are available and the shop sells a variety of hair care and styling products such as Kenra, Surface and Biolage.

“One thing that makes us unique is we offer a full men’s line of shampoo, conditioner and beard care,” Jeremy said.

The Sirenos want their clients to feel at home in the salon. Therefore, they have placed a large couch in a sitting area and added television and music.

“We want this place to be a hangout for people, like getting your hair cut by family,” Jeremy said.

Giving back to the community is important to the couple. On their grand opening day, they collected money for Diamond in the Ruff Rescue. In the future, they want to host charity rides and have days when kids come in and read, then receive a free hair cut.

“The mall works with people [to get their businesses launched,]” Karen said. “We want to spread the word about our positive experience.”

The Chop Shop is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and some Saturdays. To learn more, call the shop at 641-328-1478.