Business Notebook: A salon for all moves to more spacious quarters

Warwick - When Gloria Washington-Mines-Mines first opened a beauty salon in Sugar Loaf in 2000, it was to fill a need. Back then, Washington-Mines, who lives in Warwick with her husband Mearl, had observed there were no beauty salons in this area providing hair care and other services for African-American women. The business was an immediate success. “It was the only beauty salon between Spring Valley and Middletown catering to patrons of all ethnicity,” she recalled. On March 11, Washington-Mines celebrated her success with a formal grand opening and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at her new, larger facility in Warwick’s Meadowcrest Mall at 127 Route 94 S. Gloria’s Total Beauty Salon and Spa, offering ethnic and multicultural services, actually opened in December. Her shop is in suite No. 2 on the upper level and to the rear of the new Meadowcrest Mall, which is between the Village of Warwick and ShopRite. Washington-Mines is a Trustee of Warwick’s African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and before she signed the lease she asked her pastor, Rev. Mashona Davis, to pray that she was doing the right thing. She also sought the advice of her husband and a host of close friends. Everyone agreed that the need was there and that she should seize this opportunity. Sanctifying the day As at many such events, there was plenty of food and refreshments. In addition to her relatives, church members and other friends, Washington-Mines had also invited her loyal customers. But she deviated from the typical grand opening script when she asked Rev. Davis to conduct a brief service. Everyone was asked to form a circle, greet the person immediately to the left and right and hold hands. Rev. Davis then read an appropriate message from the Old Testament and prayed for the success of the new shop. After the blessing, Washington-Mines thanked everyone for coming. “This means so much to me,” she said. “This has been a wonderful journey. I thank God for all of you and being able to serve you in the spirit of excellence.” Washington-Mines has been a licensed cosmetologist for over 30 years. Her larger quarters now allow her to offer additional services including facials and body massage. A licensed massage therapist and a licensed esthetician are both on staff. Gloria’s Total Beauty Salon & Spa is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 845-986-2277. Back in business Warwick resident Marilyn Dale has been making and teaching pottery for 30 years and about a third of that time has been at her studio in Warwick. About 10 years ago, Dale decided to take a hiatus from her studio work, allowing her to spend more time with her husband Bill and her sons Gordon and Seth. Former students and pottery customers were happy to learn, however, that she reopened her studio last November. The Warwick Pottery Studio at 91 Waterbury Rd. now offers a full schedule of classes in both “Hand Building,” taught by Bea Bloom, and “Wheel Throwing,” taught by Dale, who sometimes also teaches hand building. Weekly classes in a semester format are open to adults and children. The teachers place special emphasis on developing students’ individual styles. “The specialty of this studio,” said Dale, “is the development of each student with their own artistry.” The Warwick Pottery Studio also sells custom-made pottery, and Dale, who can read and write Hebrew, also crafts special orders for Judaica. For more information call 845-986-3252.