BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH BERKELEY
Story of Ratha Watkins
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Original Artist: Yvonne Browne
Rehabilitation Artist: Zoe Thiele-Seidenberg
Writers: Gwendolyn Reed and Sara Bruckmeier
Original completed 2006
Restored in 2018
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Link to full interview text
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In the ‘20s and ‘30s, upwardly mobile black families often chose to build homes in South Berkeley,
one of the few areas not covered by restrictive covenants. Black churches, clubs, and businesses
took root in this stable and concentrated community. Then came the war. The attraction of war work
at Bay Area shipyards drew migrants from all over the United States, including African Americans moving
away from the oppressive Jim Crow laws of the South. Once a cozy community where everyone knew
their neighbor, South Berkeley became a densely populated migrant enclave over the course of a few
short years.
The surging tide of economic strength would ebb again in the late ‘40s, when the shipyards closed.
Many African Americans became unemployed in a nation where racism continued to limit job opportu-
nities. It was during this period, the early 1950s, that Ratha Watkins and her two colleagues decided to
found a business in South Berkeley.
Ratha Watkins, while working as a cosmetologist at Lovely Lady Beauty Salon, dreamed of own-
ing her own business. Two of her cosmetologist friends, Julianne Schultz and Billye Dunlap, shared that
dream. The three of them became business partners. They found a vacant shop at 3312 Adeline in a build-
ing so rundown it had been condemned. But they saw something special: a space large enough for each
of them to have a booth plus room for additional booths to rent to other cosmetologists.
With the consent of the owner, Ms. Weiman, Ratha and her husband William Watkins got to work.
They installed all new copper plumbing and electrical wiring, and repaired and renovated the place in-
side and out. Not only did they bring the building up to code, but they installed a modern and beautiful
salon inside.
1952 was the year of the grand opening. Julianne Schultz chose the name “Coeur d’Alene” after a
salon in Idaho. Billye Dunlap added the phrase “Charm House” to advertise her modeling business. The
beauty salon was a success from the start. Clients flocked to the modern and professional salon and the
booths rented quickly to other cosmetologists. Ratha Watkins recalls, “We were so proud!”
Over its 50 plus year history, Ratha’s Coeur d’Alene Charm House served as a place of business
for more than 200 cosmetologists including Frank Gonder and Leartric (Lee) William. It also helped the
women of South Berkeley and the surrounding areas keep up with the latest fashion in hair care and
grooming. Maudelle Shirek, the Honorable Vicemayor of Berkeley, was a very dependable client - until
the natural came into vogue in the ’60s. Ratha Watkins became sole proprietor in the late 1950s after
each of her two friends decided to sell her their interest. After Ratha Watkins retired, the shop reopened
under a new name. You can still see Ratha’s name on the building. This panel depicts Ratha Watkins, her
two children, her daughters-in-law, her grand children, her great grand children, and her diploma from
Institut Myriam Carange in Paris.