Just a stone’s throw from Coors Field lies a Denver staple, and the perfect main character for our Women’s Issue: Retro Room Salon & Spa, owned and managed by Johnna Roybal. With 28 years of experience behind the chair and a passion that inspires, she’s done it all, accomplishing her childhood goal of owning a salon by 27 years old.
As you may know, Retro Room has a certain quirk: it’s a salon that’s connected to a bar. In 2006, Johnna and her husband opened up Code 3 Lounge — a local bar right down the street from her salon. Two years later, her husband proposed an idea.
“I thought he was crazy, but I was willing to try something that had never been done in Colorado before. After 16 years, here we are, still standing with a unique concept. It has been amazing to say the least.”
Along with its unique salon and bar concept, Johnna's unwavering commitment to her clients and her team is what sets Retro Room apart from the rest, "My passion has always been providing a service to make people feel beautiful and confident," she shares. "In this career, you have to love every aspect of life and care for the person sitting in your chair. It's not just about their hair or appearance; it's about how they feel and what they're going through." Still, the beauty industry isn’t an easy path to tread, despite how social media may portray it.
When you’ve spent years working in an industry only for someone to demean, or discredit the skill it takes, it hurts. Which is precisely what Johnna has noticed recently, “My passion in this industry has stayed strong for so many years. I want to see people grow and love this industry. I think the hardest thing that I see these days is that people think that what we do behind the chair through social media is so easy. It is not. I have had to work so hard over the years to build a strong clientele that trust everything I do. The courage to put yourself out there, not depending on your phone to make it happen, will lead to success.”
Looking to the future, Johnna sees a gradual transition where she can leave daily operations in the hands of her capable team, and oversee her business in a more traditional ownership role. But in the meantime, it’s business as usual at Retro Room — and if you’ve read this far, you’re in for an even bigger surprise.
Along with being a salon and a bar in one, Retro Room takes it even further with food options and even a spa, offering facials, peels, a dedicated eyebrow specialist, and waxing services. It’s the kind of place you’d end up spending a whole afternoon at without even noticing; Johnna and her husband have made sure of that.
If you haven’t stopped by Retro Room for an appointment, a drink, a bite, or a spa day, clear your next weekend afternoon and see it for yourself. You’ll find it off Larimer, between 20th and 21st.
