Local salon at the ready to get back on track

LEAMINGTON — The wait for Stage 2 is over for The Hair Café and they couldn’t be happier.

Co-owners Melanie McCabe and Shelby Hunter were anxiously awaiting word that Leamington and Kingsville could advance to stage 2 of the province’s plan to re-open the economy.

That decision came down on Monday, bringing relief and tears of joy to the business partners.

The Hair Café, like other salons in the area, was held back from opening their doors due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the area staying in Stage 1.

The pair have been in business for 13 years and have been at their location at 1 Iroquois Road in Leamington for the past five-plus years.

“We kind of fashioned it after (the tv show) Friends,” said Hunter. “We wanted people to feel at home. Hence the name.”

Normally a bustling location, during the months of COVID lockdown, the salon fell silent.

McCabe and Hunter can’t wait for it to be bustling again, but cautioned their customers that the way they do business has changed a bit.

Salon stations have been spaced out to follow health guidelines and they will only be allowed to work on one client at a time. That means less people in building than there used to be.

“It will give us more one-on-one time with our clients, but it makes our job a little more difficult,” said McCabe.

Melanie McCabe, left, and Shelby Hunter at the entrance to their business, The Hair Cafe, on Iroquois Rd in Leamington. The business partners are anxious to get started after the Stage 2 announcement on Monday.

Besides McCabe and Hunter, they rent chair space to three other stylists and an esthetician, all of whom have a busy following.

Individually, they’ve all been fielding calls asking for appointments.

“We have all received numerous text messages and voicemails from anxious clients,” said Hunter. “I’ve got a list of over 100 people to call back.”

The two have taken the time during the shutdown to take some infection control courses so they’ll be ready to tackle and adhere to the Ontario Health guidelines.

Over the next few days, the Hair Café will gradually get back into business. Clients will be contacted and appointments will be made.

They remind clients to wear a mask and be patient with them as they get opened up.

To make an appointment, you can call 519-322-0122 and leave a message. Someone will get back to you as soon as they can.

The partners are on the same page when it comes to getting their business back up and running. They miss their clientele.

“It’s emotional,” said McCabe. “These people are like our family.”

They’ve received many supportive phone messages over the past three months. It gives them an extra appreciation for their clientele.

They are also on the same page when they look back on the past three months and say, “We are women in business and we are strong.”