The Downtown Day Spa and Barber Shop is up and cutting (and polishing and plucking and trimming). Samoiya and hubby Greg Perkins’ new business at 327 Market Street is open and waiting for you for a variety of feel-good, look-better treatments.

Day Spa Interior shot. It’s lovely inside!

Samoiya is handling all the manicures and pedicures and Greg is making sure the fellas get some love, too.

The trick is to get a child to sit still long enough for a cut!!

The business is open Tuesday- Friday, 9 am- 7 pm. Call for an appointment at 318-840-7055 or click here.  The business has room for other manicurists and estheticians so expect more to be coming soon!

Story filed April 27, 2022

We’re rolling out the welcome mat for new businesses and hope you will, too! Samoiya and Greg Perkins have opened their very first brick-and-mortar location at 327 Market Street. Though they are still working to complete all the details on their new Downtown Day Spa and Barber Shop, they are open by appointment.

Greg and Samoiya Perkins of Downtown Day Spa and Barber Shop

Samoiya is currently offering nail services like manicures and pedicures (no acrylics), but will eventually be set up for facials and facial waxing. They hope to soon hire hairstylists and a massage therapist. Greg is handing the barbering side of things and will soon be offering facials, hairline restoration and makeovers for men.

Give them a call to set up an appointment at 318-840-7055 or click here to see their services and schedule a cut or manicure.


Fusion Nutrition has thrown open its doors in Suite 200 of 500 Clyde Fant Parkway (the Red River District under the Texas Street Bridge). Owners Beatrice Blackmon and Curtis Lee invite you to come by for a delicious, healthy beverage that will either quench your thirst or give you a pep in your step or both!

The limited initial menu sounds oh-so-good, but will soon be followed by even MORE shakes and teas, baked good and grab and go lunch items.


Did someone say ‘lunch’? On May 2, there’s going to be a new downtown restaurant to add to your list… Northern Louisiana Comfort Food & Catering. Yes, it’s a long name, but co-owner Beverly Bernard is pretty sure once you taste her sweet potato pie and gumbo, you won’t be calling it anything but ‘DELICIOUS.’

Northern is in one of the coolest little spaces in all of downtown- the former KCS cafe at 830 Louisiana Avenue. (To get there, take either Line Avenue or Louisiana Avenue if coming from the south, Common or Marshall Streets coming from the north). The history of this little space mirrors that of railroads in Shreveport, and it is a great place to ‘railfan’ – trains come through the crossing there regularly.

The menu is filled with comfort food staples- loads of flavorful veggies (Beverly promises she is adding a vegetable plate to the menu), fried catfish, smothered pork chops and a daily special that features the option of two entrees, the two sides of the day and a slab of cornbread. That’s comfort! Beverly and chef Wil Pipkins haven’t get the hours yet, but expect lunch time service only, at least initially. Breakfast may follow as more employees are hired.


We’ll be announcing a couple of new restaurants in the next couple of weeks. More food, fun and options are coming in our #CoolDowntown!