The staff at Virden’s Nu-Art Beauty Salon is gearing up to celebrate a big milestone. This year marks the 80th Anniversary of the quaint salon’s debut.
The shop first opened its doors to the public in the summer of 1937 under the ownership of Mrs. Lottie Haight and was first located on Nelson Street West - one of two such businesses in the small town.
The popularity of beauty salons was just starting to gain momentum in the 1920s, offering more services than the hairdressing parlours that were readily available.
Haight noted during the salon’s move in the 1940s, to its succeeding location, still on Nelson Street West, that all new equipment had been installed, to ensure the salon was equipped to offer the best in beauty service, a sure sign that the popularity of the beauty salon was not slowing down.
Nu-Art has seen a few different proprietors over the years; Haight from 1937-1961, Edith Enns, Rose Gunnlaugson, and Marlene Cowan, who each ran the shop through different parts of the ‘60s before Heather Beltz took over in 1964. Margo McAuley took over from Beltz in 1973; Jean Thomas in the mid ‘70s; Lou Dusessay was at the helm until 1980, when Deb German took over. Heading into the ‘90s and through to the early 2000s, the shop was owned by Sherrie Shoemaker, Jennifer Andrew and Colleen Gibson.
Diane Gabrielle, who worked for German in the 1980s, took ownership of the shop, officially, in January of 2008, from outgoing proprietor, Carol Munroe.
When asked why she decided to purchase the shop, Gabrielle replies fondly, “It was the first shop in Virden I had worked at in 1981, the year I got married, so when the opportunity arrived, I took it!”
With such a long-standing history in the Town of Virden, it goes without saying that Nu-Art has its share of loyal clientele, especially the long list of regular clients Gabrielle sees during operating hours. “Diane’s Ladies” as they’re affectionately called throughout the salon, have always been there to offer welcomed advice. “In some ways”, Gabrielle laughs, “they’ve helped us raise our children”.
But Gabrielle insists that even though the term “client” is common in the staff’s vocabulary, the people that walk through their door are family. The current milestone isn’t as much a celebration for Nu-Art, and recognizing the staff who have overseen the shop for so many years, but a celebration of the salon’s clients - their friends - who have made the milestone possible.
Be sure to stop in and see Diane, Ashley, Baylee, and Carly, and wish them luck on their next 80 years as they kick off the celebrations June 23.
