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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > July > 11 > Entry
Barbie Bandits garner air time for salon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clients clustered at Carter-Barnes Hair Artisans in Buckhead on Wednesday to dish on tony salon’s latest national advertisement.
On Tuesday night, ABC News anchor David Muir hosted the latest edition of “Primetime: Family Secrets,” featuring our very own Heather Johnston and Ashley Miller aka “The Barbie Bandits.” As you’ll recall, after the teen bank robbers knocked over an Acworth Bank of America last February, they turned up for lavish make-overs at Carter-Barnes.
For his report, Muir came to Atlanta, visited the shop and interviewed Johnston while ABC News camera folks shot exteriors of the salon. The network even aired the salon’s surveillance photos of the pair.
“This ongoing attention to the Barbie Bandits is truly amazing,” Carter-Barnes co-founder Carey Carter allowed Wednesday. “Ever since Peach Buzz broke this story, we have been on every major news show except ‘Nancy Grace,’ who, oddly, is from Atlanta. But I think you can see that she is not a Carter-Barnes customer.”
Prior to exposure on CNN, Fox News and ABC, the salon’s biggest claim to national fame had been mentions in the James Patterson thriller, “The Big Bad Wolf” and native Atlantan Anne Rivers Siddons’ tome, “Fault Lines.”
“Our employees are actually pretty proud as they talk about it today,” Carter told us. “I mean, getting described on an ABC News program as ‘one of Atlanta’s premier salons’ isn’t exactly a negative. We didn’t seek them out as customers. We were handed lemons and we ended up making some rather tasty lemonade. People are still coming back for more, aren’t they?”
Carter says that police have taken statements from some of his employees and the salon workers could be called as witnesses in the case. And if law enforcement officials determine the $200-plus the pair spent on highlights and haircuts is part of the stolen loot and want it returned?
“Are you kidding? ” Carter said. “Of course, we’ll return it. You can’t begin to put a price tag on the exposure we’ve received.”
As for when his more private and media-shy business partner Mitchell Barnes might emerge from underneath his work station, Carter cracked: “My best estimate would be Groundhog Day. And when he finds out I’ve been talking to you again, he’ll no doubt grimace.”
To view the webcast of Tuesday’s “Primetime: Family Secrets” go to abcnews.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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