Ribbon cutting at A Beauty Escape

A major renovation overhaul — from flooring to lights — has turned an empty East Garden Avenue building into A Beauty Escape, a salon that is one of the latest Chamber of Commerce additions.

Though the doors of the beauty salon have been open for business since November, manager Lisa Avila delayed opening-day celebrations until Monday, when the final touches were complete.

“It’s gorgeous. It’s clean and you feel at home,” said longtime client Deanna Knott.

One of the biggest changes to the building was the alteration of an area in the back of the building into a break room for the salon’s eight employees.

The room, which is now painted white, originally had a dirt floor.

Floral arrangements, a gift from local artist Pauline Hayes, were positioned over each stylist’s station as friends and family milled through the building, making exclamations about the transformation.

Hayes has been getting her hair cut by Avila for the past 25 years.

“We just wanted the building to be all done before we had our get-together,” Avila said.

Because she has a number of older clients, Avila requested that the customer restroom be restored with them in mind.

Now, it is big enough to fit a wheelchair in through the door and has metal railings affixed to the walls for balance.

Avila said that the final item checked off her renovation list was the installation of a handicapped parking spot in the lot behind the salon.

The grand opening was marked by a ribbon cutting attended by the employees and their family and friends.

“It’s no mansion, but we’re happy here,” Avila said.

-- Contact Sarah de Crescenzo at 784-5000, Ext. 1045, or sdecrescenzo@portervillerecorder.com.