Texas Border Business
By Ric Cavazos, Mercedes EDC
Mario Salazar’s Bare Knuckle Tattoos & Barbershop business is on Texas Avenue but located a bit out of view on the city’s main thoroughfare to Expressway 83.
In business since 2019, Salazar speaks of his barbershop enthusiastically, saying it serves customers of all ages and having a male and female clientele. Salazar has a day job unrelated to his barbershop but had long been interested in having such a business.
“I enjoy the atmosphere of it,’’ he said. “The conversations that go on and getting to know your customers and the different kind of looks they want.’’
Salazar is a native of Los Angeles and has lived in the Rio Grande Valley for 10 years. He has found Mercedes with its Mid-Valley location to be a good place to do business. Salazar is even more sure of it now after being the initial recipient of the signage improvement program being provided by the Mercedes Economic Development Corporation. With a $4500 grant provided by the EDC, Salazar had a stylish roadside sign made and it now sits prominently along Texas Avenue.
“It’s letting the community know we’re here,’’ he said of the signage improvements. “People turn their heads now and can see, oh that’s a barber shop over there.’’
Boosting Business
It’s as the EDC and its board President Fred Gonzalez intended with the new signage improvement program.
Eligible business that apply and are approved are reimbursed 100 percent for project costs, up to $4500 for signage improvements. Reimbursement is provided after the applicant has paid their contractor and other project providers in full and completed the process in accordance with EDC guidelines.
Salazar’s barbershop is the first recipient of the signage improvement program with two more businesses on Texas Avenue nearing completion of the process to receive their own respective grants. It’s as the EDC intended, Gonzalez said, to help small businesses in the city’s core.
“We wanted to do something for the heartbeat of our community, which is the downtown business district,’’ Gonzalez said. “We’ve had development along the expressway and more is coming, but we can’t forget about our downtown area. This program is one way we can help them get noticed.’’
It’s doing exactly that for Salazar and his barber shop business. He praised the EDC and its staff for helping him through the process of receiving the grant and boosting his business.
“The city is helping promote your business,’’ he said. “What more can you ask for? If you want more customers, the city is going to help you.’’
For more information about the signage improvement program, call the EDC staff at 956-565-2230, with its offices located at 320 S. Ohio in Mercedes.
Gonzalez and the EDC board and staff are already looking forward to having a phase two of the program. Next up: The businesses along Business 83/2nd Street in Mercedes.
