In the spirit of Northside News’ 30th birthday, we’re honored to spotlight a few local businesses that represent longtime anchors in our community. Loyal advertisers in our publication for more than twenty years,
DuWayne’s Salon, McKinney Dental, and Madison Chiropractic have seen many changes to the Northside. We asked the owner of each business why they decided to put down roots in the Northside and what sets their business apart from others like them in Dane County. We also posed the question of what they think has been the biggest change to the Northside in the many years since they opened their doors to clients.
DuWayne’s Salon (2114 N. Sherman Ave.) launched in 1959 in downtown Madison, according to current owner Steve Nelson. His father, DuWayne Nelson, opened his first salon on the Northside in the mid-1970’s at the first of three Northside addresses. As a full-service salon, DuWayne’s services men, women and children, and offers haircuts, hair coloring, highlights, low lights, perms and smoothing treatments.
“DuWayne’s differs from other salons because we pay attention to detail and because of the special touches we offer,” said Nelson. Those special touches include a warm eye towel and hand massage for women during their shampoo and conditioning treatments, whereas men receive a hot-towel treatment. “It’s not unusual to have a 3-year-old getting their haircut sitting next to a 90-year-old getting their hair service,” said Nelson.
Like the two-generation Nelson business, McKinney Dental (1410 Northport Drive) also passed down from father to son. Dr. Dan McKinney explained that as a second-generation dentist, he took over for his father, Dr. Clayton McKinney, who started the business on the Northside in 1961. After attending Northside schools and graduating from the Marquette School of Dentistry, he joined his father in 1997 as an associate dentist and bought the dental practice from him in 2000. “You can say the Northside of Madison is in my blood,” said McKinney. “It was only natural for me to continue what my father started more than 60 years ago.”
As a general dentist, McKinney provides annual check-ups, cleanings, decay removal, tooth-colored fillings, crowns, extractions, tooth replacement with bridges, removable partial dentures, full dentures and implants. He also coordinates treatment with other Madison dental specialists for orthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics and pedodontics.
What sets McKinney apart from so many practicing dentists is that he runs a solo independent practice that is not part of a corporate structure. “As a patient of McKinney Dental, you see the same dentist, the same hygienist, and you are greeted by the same friendly team members you saw six months ago,” said McKinney. “Our small team is continually communicating with our patients and each other to assure that our patients have an excellent experience and continuity of care.”
Madison Chiropractic (2205 N. Sherman Ave.) opened its doors on the Northside in 1980 because, according to its original founders Dr. Ross Royster and Dr. Brent McNabb, there were no chiropractic clinics on the Northside at that time. Once a large, underserved, residential area for services of this kind, the Northside now enjoys a wide array of holistic services, thanks to Madison Chiropractic.
“Over the past several years, our clinic has evolved from a chiropractic-only practice into a comprehensive holistic health center dedicated to helping patients restore and maintain their health through natural, drug-free solutions,” said Dr. Robin Beatty, one of the practice’s current owners. “Today, we address not only musculoskeletal conditions but also internal health concerns, focusing on treating the body as an integrated whole.”
Given the long history each of these Northside businesses has enjoyed, their owners have witnessed change to the Northside. Both Nelson of DuWayne’s Salon, and Royster and McNabb of Madison Chiropractic described the Northside in the same way: “a hidden gem.” Decades may have passed since each business was founded, but their owners agree that its sense of community, convenient proximity to downtown, and beautiful natural features such as the parks and lakeshore all contribute to what makes the Northside such a desirable place to live.
McKinney of McKinney Dental pointed to the loss of large businesses with stable workforces as a significant change he’s witnessed. However, he believes the neighborhoods impacted by this change are stabilizing once again. While change is inevitable, local businesses like DuWayne’s Salon, McKinney Dental and Madison Chiropractic care about preserving their quality and welcoming services. As Nelson reminded us, “we offer freshly baked cookies daily for everyone who enters the salon and make sure everyone who enters feels like family.”
