Haircuts and hot dogs: Local business owners unite

Monroe residents Jan Woolery and Jerry "Big DogGÇ¥ Dixon have a few things in common. They are both die hard Seahawks fans, they each have two kids and they've both lived in Monroe for 21 years. They also happen to be in love.

On top of that, they are both successful business owners. Woolery owns the Man Cave Barber Shop (18960 U.S. 2, Ste. 130), in Monroe, and Dixon operates Big Dog's Hot Dog Joint, a once semi-stationary hot dog stand that has evolved into a Seahawks-themed hot dog-on-wheels vending service. For the recently engaged couple, it's all about hot dogs and haircuts GÇô and being together.

The two became acquainted in 2013, when Dixon became a Man Cave customer. It happened almost on accident GÇô when Dixon's stylist, Shellie Rodland, made the decision to transition over to the Man Cave from another local salon, Dixon chose to follow her. About two months after that, he asked Woolery out to lunch, and the two have been together ever since.

"The first week we started dating, I said to Shellie, "I'm either going to marry him or kill him, and I'm not sure which one it is yet,'GÇ¥ Woolery said.

Dixon knew within a year that he wanted to marry her-á and secretly went to work planning a truly "Big DogGÇ¥ level proposal. Quiet and introverted would not be words used to describe Dixon.

"I wanted to do something big,GÇ¥ Dixon said. "I wanted to have fun with it.GÇ¥

He eventually hatched a scheme to propose during the Sky Valley Relay for Life event, which takes place every May at Monroe High School (17001 Tester Road). He discreetly obtained permission from Woolery's family while they were visiting over the holidays.

"Her mom and her sister visited back at Christmastime, and when we dropped them off at the airport, I asked her mom if I had her permission to ask her,GÇ¥ Dixon said.

Dixon kept his intentions a secret, only disclosing his plans to a few key individuals. He made his move during the Relay for Life lip sync contest, after a jaunty performance of George Michael's "Faith.GÇ¥ Once the song was over, he approached Woolery, who had been watching him near the grandstands with her daughter, Samantha.

After retrieving a ring box from inside of his black leather jacket, he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him, in front of hundreds of Relay for Life attendees.

"Everything kind of fell into place,GÇ¥ Dixon said. "And then she said "yes,' so that was just a bonus.GÇ¥

"I'm doing the women of Monroe a favor because I've taken him off the market so they don't have to put up with him,GÇ¥ Woolery said. "You're welcome, women of Monroe!GÇ¥

Fortunately, their families have merged together quite nicely. Dixon and his 19-year-old son, Jake, moved in with Woolery and her daughter Samantha, 11, and son Sean, 14, in February. Dixon's 22-year-old daughter, Anastacia, lives in Monroe with her husband, Kent. -á -á -á

The Man Cave

Originally from Scotland, Woolery welcomes clients with a cheerful, plucky Scottish accent. Conceptualized to be completely eclectic and 100-percent guy-friendly, the d+¬cor at Man Cave is entirely red-blooded. The walls are festooned with hub caps, license plates, 80s hair-metal album covers, Seahawks and Mariners memorabilia, Bearcats swag, posters, playful signs and more. The ceiling is plastered with bar coasters from all around the world, and clients can play pool or Xbox while they wait for their appointments.

The stylist stations feature black toolboxes, rather than ordinary cupboards. There is something new to see everywhere you look. The undeniably welcoming atmosphere is reminiscent of a sports bar GÇô only at Man Cave, they serve hair products rather than beer.

"I just really wanted to make it dude-friendly,GÇ¥ Woolery said. "We're not an old, crusty barber shop, but we're not a salon, either. We're kind of a new and improved, younger barbershop.GÇ¥

Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, the Man Cave employs five stylists, including Woolery. Prior to becoming a hair stylist, Woolery worked as a nanny, which is what initially brought her to the United States from Scotland in 1994. Coming to America was a decision inspired by her older sister, who left Scotland for a yearlong backpacking trip around Australia, returning with many great tales of fun and adventure.-á -á

"I was like, "Wow, I need to do something like that! I want to go have fun, take a year out and just go experience life,'GÇ¥ Woolery recalled.

But once she got here, her yearlong adventure evolved into something more permanent. She attended cosmetology school from 1995 to 1996 and, eventually, started to work at the salon, which was called Sports Cuts at the time. She worked there for about four years before transforming it into Man Cave in September 2012, after buying the business.

Woolery works to ensure that Man Cave stays fun, quirky and one-of-a-kind. Man Cave has flourished by offering things that other barber shops don't have, like straight-edge shaves using hot lather.

"For all the advertising stuff that I've done over the years, word-of-mouth works the best,GÇ¥ Woolery said. "You can spend all kinds of money on advertising, but a happy client leaving tells their friends, and you get more people coming in.GÇ¥

Big Dog's Hot Dog Joint

When Big Dog's Hot Dog Joint first opened last year, it was a small, mobile hot dog stand in Sultan. Dixon specializes in crazy flavor profiles and wacky toppings, including The Nutter, which features peanut butter, bacon and Nutella. Other Big Dog's originals feature toppings like barbecue sauce and jalapenos or cheese and crushed potato chips.

The grand opening took place on Feb. 22, 2014, with Woolery serving as the cashier. -á -á

"We had no idea what we were doing, but we rocked it that day,GÇ¥ Woolery said.

After about six months in Sultan, Dixon made the decision to move his stand to Monroe. He wanted to be closer to both his home and the numerous organizations he provides outreach for. In addition to occasionally donating his professional DJ services to the Monroe School District, Dixon is heavily involved in Relay for Life, Bark for Life, Monroe's National Night Out, the Fair Days parade and more.

He situated his stand near Sam's Cats & Dogs, Naturally and reopened in August last year.

"At that same time, I had purchased the mobile truck,GÇ¥ Dixon said. "It started small in Sultan, then it got bigger in Monroe and now it's even bigger than that. It's getting to the point where I'm actually going to have to hire some people now.GÇ¥

Wholeheartedly incorporating a Seahawks theme, Dixon decked out the new "HawkdogGÇ¥ truck in blue and green, adorning it with the No. 12 and phrases like "Beef ModeGÇ¥ and "You hungry, bro?GÇ¥

The truck was an instant hit, and since then, his business has undergone yet another transformation. Instead of maintaining a stationary schedule in Monroe, he uses the Hawkdog truck primarily to focus on lunch runs, sports games and special events.

"I didn't expect it to get this big,GÇ¥ Dixon said. "I mean, I joked aboutGÇ¥ wiener world domination,GÇ¥ but it's weird because it's just taken off so much. I'm actually having to turn people down for events because we already have other stuff going on.GÇ¥

And because he's always looking for new entrepreneurial opportunities, Dixon made the decision to operate the concession stand this summer at Lake Tye. He's looking forward to Monroe's summer events schedule, which will include free summer movie nights and the free outdoor concert series. He purchased kayaks that will be available at Lake Tye for rental and has partnered with the fire department to provide loaner life jackets on-site.

"It's kind of underused as a destination, and I've always seen the kayaks down at the Kirkland waterfront,GÇ¥ Dixon said. "Why not have something like that out here? There's nothing like that around here and it's the perfect venue for it.GÇ¥

Together, Dixon and Woolery will sponsor the upcoming Monroe Boys & Girls Club flag football fundraiser, which will feature the Monroe Police Department (MPD) versus the Monroe Fire Department. Dixon is sponsoring the MPD and Woolery will sponsor Monroe Fire.

"It's going to be Man Cave versus Big Dog's,GÇ¥ Dixon said.

For more information on Man Cave,-á visit www.facebook.com/ManCaveMonroe?fref=ts. For more information about Big Dog's visit www.facebook.com/BigDogsTacos?fref=ts.a

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