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Itasca Introduction

Many people dream of owning their own business and Itasca is ready and willing to help turn those dreams into reality. No one is more aware of this than Sally Clark, owner of the Itasca Barber Salon. “Itasca is the perfect town to be in. The town and people have welcomed me with open arms,” says Clark.

She has the distinction of being a female barber for 29 years in an almost exclusively male profession. After completing barber school, Clark went on to complete a five-year apprenticeship and become a Master Barber. This accomplishment is one to be proud of and is truly of a dying breed. True barbers are increasingly difficult to find; no barber school can be found in the state of Illinois. Barbers used to belong to a union that dismantled approximately 25 years ago.

Today, few people know the distinction between a barber and a beautician. The differences seem minor on the surface, but a close look exposes an aspect of our culture that hasn’t completely faded away.

First, barbers attend more hours of school than beauticians do: 1,872 hours versus 1,500. Second, barbers are trained mainly to cut men’s hair. And, there was a time in the not-too-distant past when beauticians were not allowed to use any electrical instruments.

These differences between the professions reflected the more stereotypical society that existed more than two decades ago. The 1980s saw an expansion of barber services that included permanents and coloring for men as the fashion of the times dictated. Today, many barbers, including Sally Clark, provide services for men, women and children.

Proudly displaying her authentic barber pole out front, Clark’s clients take a step back in time when they enter the salon. Filled with antique furniture, wooden toys and a jukebox, the Itasca Barber Salon makes everyone feel at home.

“I have been very lucky. My business is everything I wanted it to be. It is very successful and I’ve done it all by myself. I have the perfect location, perfect size and the perfect town, which is very supportive even though I don’t live here. I support worthy causes in town such as the Boy Scouts and the library,” she says.

Clark is not the only business owner in town who has reaped the rewards offered by this close-knit community. Shelly Seuschek has owned Shelly’s Salon & Spa for 23 years and spent the last five-and-a-half years in Itasca. Seuschek celebrated her grand re-opening in August of 2001 and business has been great.

Located across the street from the Itasca train station, the salon and spa welcomes guests from near and far. Besides local residents and train travelers, there are regulars who visit the salon from destinations more than an hour away. “A day at Shelly’s Salon & Spa is always fun. Some would say we are like Cheers, a place where everyone knows your name. We are family oriented, but work very hard to make sure every guest visiting our salon feels how important they are to us,” says Seuschek.

The Salon began small with only two chairs, three hairdryers and one sink. From there, Shelly’s has grown into a full-service salon and spa that continues to expand.

In its current location, Shelly’s has expanded to six chairs in addition to its space used for manicures, pedicures, skin treatments such as facials and waxing, and two rooms for massages and body wraps. Yet, even this current space is not enough. As both the times and the needs of her clientele change, so does Shelly’s.

Shelly’s latest endeavor is the creation of a relaxation room. Understanding the increasingly stressful nature of her clients’ lives, she has envisioned a space where clients can rejuvenate and take a break from their busy lives. This relaxation room will include soothing music along with a variety of services to choose from. Clients may wish to indulge in reflexology, hand and foot treatments, and scalp or eye treatments.

Seuschek and her staff work hard to make everyone who enters Shelly’s Salon & Spa feel special. “We are a family salon. We love to prepare our customers for life, as well as any special occasion that comes along. Truly, our customers have made our business a joy,” Seuschek said. This blend of friendly customers, a welcoming town, and a great place for businesses to call home is the rule, not the exception in Itasca. Both the Itasca Barber Salon and Shelly’s Salon & Spa have known this for years, and newcomers quickly get a sense of how lucky they are to be in such a friendly and supportive community.

KT Florals & Gifts opened its doors at the end of September 2006. This recent addition to the Itasca business community enjoyed such success in its first four months that owner Kathy Tindell is already working on expanding her store to include a space dedicated to consultations for major life events such as weddings, graduations, reunions and business gatherings.

“Business has been very good, very good,” says Tindell. Indeed, she speaks with simple pleasure as she shares that her dream of owning a florist/gift shop has come true. “I always wanted to own my own store. I just love working with flowers,” she said.

Tindell has a talent for flower and gift arrangements. She will gladly help customers with real and/or silk floral arrangements, gift baskets, plants and balloons. Her special touch adds something to every arrangement that just can’t be bought at any store. She gives every job her best and her customers recognize her efforts.

The new space will allow Tindell to develop her services in the world of special occasions. This new division is still in the development stage, and will include consultation services, as well as possibly carrying invitations and other items essential to these memorable moments.