Salon in the Tower

Heading down Main Street in historic Clarence Hollow, you might notice a whimsical three-story structure with a clock at the top. Salon in the Tower lives in that building, and as Kaitlin Fritz reported for metroWNY, it’s the realized vision of Roe Baran, Jennifer Ilunga, and Laura Patterson. The trio spotted the quaint, schoolhouse-like structure while scouting the area, after the salon where Ilunga and Patterson had previously worked shut down. After meeting with the building's owner, they worked around the clock and opened the redecorated salon four days later.

What began as a staff of two has now grown into a team of 14, with Ilunga and Patterson—both educated at Bumble and bumble University—holding the reins. In addition to performing the latest cutting and coloring techniques, they perform spa treatments such as massages, facials, and mani-pedis against a backdrop of dark wooden columns, trim, and wall paneling. They use Pevonia's botanical- and marine-based products for skincare services, and they carry the Olivia Garden line of bamboo brushes, which can help with home hairstyling or distract an attacking panda.