Carter new owner of Mary Grant’s salon
Local businesswoman Lorie Carter has purchased Mary Grant’s Hair Fashions salon, a long-standing fixture in the North Fort Myers community.
It’s a new business venture she is looking forward to, she said.
“I originally started working for the owners back in November and just bought the salon from her [Katherine Arbelo] last month.”
Former owner Arbelo is the daughter of Mary Grant, who started the business and many in town know, and who had recently retired. Arbelo will still be involved in the shop as a stylist.
“My mother opened this shop in August 1978,” said Arbelo. “It was a paint store before she moved in here. That was 31 years ago.”
Grant has a great reputation in the community, and donated to many community causes.
Carter is known for helping her husband, local businessman Randy Carter, start his Carter Plumbing business about a year and a half ago.
One thing of note, said Lorie Carter, is the fact that the salon was named “Best of North Fort Myers” in the recent Neighbor readership poll of top area businesses in the community.
“I also have 15 years in hair dressing experience, and the last nine years have been local,” she continued.
She got her license in Indiana and moved to Florida in January 2000.
“I just love everything about this business, because nothing is the same day-to-day,” she said. “Everybody is different, every hair texture is different, and it gives me a variety of things to do each day.”
There was no plan to buy the shop when she first started there. “It’s just something that came along.”
She will combine her business experience from working with her husband’s company and her hair experience from working with other salons to maintain the stellar reputation of the shop.
What attracted her to the business?
“The family atmosphere and relaxing atmosphere,” she said “The customer-base is made up of very friendly people. It’s a small family-oriented salon.”
She won’t be making many changes.
“I want to keep everything as it is,” she said.
The shop specializes in color and cuts. “We do have an esthetician, Cherise Delgado, who does facials and waxing as well.”
Stylist Arbelo also does the extensions, wigs and toupees.
“We also have a new hair stylist, Lane Moore,” she added. “She’s recently graduated from Sunstate Academy and she will be helping us until she takes her state board test.”
On her time off, she said she spends time with her sons and her husband. She’s a North Fort Myers resident who likes our area.
Hours of the shop are Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and later or earlier times are available by appointment. For information, call 995-1314.