Peter Evans, Founder

Opening in 1991, Stella Nova’s owner Peter Evans credits the brand’s longevity and success to the same entrepreneuriaal lessons he learned at his first job as a paper boy for the Charleston Post and Courier and The Evening Post. His route from paper boy to successful entrepreneur has taken him from the photography studio to the salon/spa to the racetrack at Charleston Motorsports Club, and no matter how different the setting the same lessons have applied: value customer service by putting employees first, keep a close eye on the bottom line and be prepared to work hard.

Evans started his first business as an 11 year old, navigating his downtown Charleston paper route by bike wearing a newspaper bag that was heavier than he was. “You have to be up early and it doesn’t matter if it rains and the downtown roads are flooded, people expect their newspaper delivery,” shares Evans. “Sundays were particularly rough because the paper was large, but with a paper route, you are your own boss, you’ve got to be there, you’ve got to get it out and, in those days, you also had to collect the money.”

After graduating from high school at Porter Gaud, Peter’s education and entrepreneurial ambitions took him to Florida, North Carolina and Boston where he owned and operated diverse businesses: a photography agency, custom car stereo sales and installation, a solar energy business, real estate renovation and sales, restaurant manager, consultant, and several bars, and restaurants over the years. “When you start down a path, you never know where it leads and if you’re interested and open to learning, business ideas happen very naturally,” explains Evans.

In 1991, Evans decided to bring the beauty products he sought-out on his travels to hometown of Charleston. After a 5 month renovation, the first Stella Nova location opened at 292 King Street followed by a second location on Society Street in 1997. Peter laughs thinking about doing the Society Street renovations, “I was wearing a respirator mask that didn’t filter properly and I actually lost my sense of smell for 10 years!” At the time of the beauty boutique’s opening, King Street was a very different retail landscape and many people did not know what to make of the store with many coming in to inquire ‘what is this place?’ Stella Nova helped introduce luxury brand beauty products to residents and visitors while educating patrons. Stella Nova’s first customer was an oyster gatherer and clammer named Lawrence who Evans became friends with over the years. “He would bring us clams in a velvet bag and he was a big fan of our Farmer’s Friends hand salve,” says Peter.

The relationships with customers continued to grown as did the business. A Mt Pleasant location opened in Towne Center in 1999 with an expansion in 2002, and the West Ashley location opened in 2004. In 2006, Evans opened a Stella Nova Spa and Salon locataion in Summerville, in addition to a Rock Aveda concept salon on King Street, and an advanced educational training training center on Society Street

In 2019, Peter brought the Stella Nova brand and ethos back to downtown Charleston with a location opening in The Cigar Factory on East Bay Street.

The Stella Nova stylists and beauty experts are Evans top priority. “Making the customers happy is key to longevity and I’m keenly aware that it is my team that makes our customers happy,” says Peter. “They are on the front lines of customer service and it is my goal to create an atmosphere of respect and harmony where they are happy to come to work and practice their artistry.”

In 2016, as Stella Nova celebrated their 25 year milestone, Evans’ commitment to community, with over over $25k donated to local charities, was recognized at the Luxury Brand Partners Front Row event in Miami.

Evans and Laran D’Eustachio, who have worked together as owner (Evans) and Managing Director (D’Eustachio) at Stella Nova for over 27 years, opened Barrelli Barber in downtown Charleston’s historic Cigar Factory in June 2017, offering “Proper Grooming for Gentlemen”. They were inspired by their experience as parents of sons and their beauty service and retail expertise to provide service and products designed with men in mind. In addition to the barbershop, Barrelli Barber has a men’s grooming line available for sale at the barbershop and the Barrelli Barber website. Barrelli Barber is now open in 4 locations: Downtown Charleston, Park Circle in North Charleston, Mt Pleasant, and in Downtown Summerville.

Evans continues to take on new projects acquiring Charleston Motorsports Club in 2014. And no matter how heavy the bag gets or how much the terrain changes, Evans does a great job of keeping the bike riding steady.

In 2018, Evans donated an old Civil War property to the City of Charleston to create a waterfront park on the Stono River so that people of all generations will have access to the beauty of our Charleston waterfront.

  • Inspired by their experience as parents of sons and their 30-plus years of beauty service and retail expertise, owners Peter Evans and Laran D’Eustachio opened Barrelli Barber in 2017 to provide service and products designed with men in mind. Barrelli specializes in providing high quality services with personal touches like complementary craft beers and spirits to customers in an atmosphere that is upscale, not uptight. “Our customers appreciate the top-notch service and aesthetic while also feeling like they’re at an old-school barbershop” says Laran.

    Barrelli Barber offers shaves, haircuts, waxing, hair color, beard and neck trims, and the most sought after men's grooming products. Special grooms packages are available for men looking for something special to do on their big day. In addition to the barbershop, Barrelli Barber has a signature men’s grooming line available for sale at the barbershop and on the Barrelli Barber website. The line includes shampoos, conditioners, and styling & grooming products formulated with the influence of Peter and Laran’s years of experience.

    Barrelli Barber is now open in 4 locations: Downtown Charleston, Park Circle in North Charleston, Mt Pleasant, and in Downtown Summerville.

  • Charleston Motorsports Club, a members motorsport facility, is under construction in Greeleyville, SC. Only 75 minutes from historic Charleston, the 155-acre venue blends the thrill of high performance driving on an FIA certified track and luxury amenities. With membership tiers based on track time needs, the club provides an exceptional motorsport experience for car lovers. “As an avid automobile lover, amateur racer, and the owner of luxury services brands Stella Nova and Barrelli Barber, I felt compelled to take these passions and combine them,” explains Peter Evans, CEO. “Charleston MotorSports Club is a place where high end performance and luxury all come together.”

    Phase 1 construction includes a 1.62-mile road course. The track is designed by Driven who are internationally renowned for their race tracks and driving courses in the US, UK, Canada, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and Jordan. "There's been a need for a world-class circuit near Charleston where enthusiasts can enjoy their cars and use them for what they were meant to do. We recognized that need and brought you Charleston Motorsports Club, one of the only Grade 4, FIA certified track in North America making it the perfect place to bring your passion to life," says Ray Berrouët, COO. A pit building, paddock, and an array of private garage condos are included in the first phase of development. Charleston Motorsports Club will feature various circuits setting the stage for adrenaline-fueled experiences.

    The pit building is the hub of the Charleston Motorsports Complex community, overlooking the track with garages on the ground floor, and a café and social spaces on the first floor. The architectural style combines the tradition and materials of buildings in the region, with modern design and structural methods, in a carefully crafted and sensitively designed environment.

    The trackside garage condos are available for members who need extra space, enhanced privacy and on-site storage for cars. These spaces are fully appointed private residences with views over the circuit. Additional managed storage facilities are available for members with larger car collections.

    The first section of the performance driving circuit is scheduled to be ready for use in 2024. Lauren Binard of Maison Real Estate group in Charleston, SC, is the exclusive realtor for the trackside garage condos. Her expertise in luxury sales make her a great match for selling this distinct development, and she is also a car enthusiast having been raised by her father, an avid collector, and owning several British classics herself.

    To learn more about the Charleston Motorsports Club visit:

    https://www.charlestonmotorsportsclub.com/