By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
More than 20 years ago, when Stacey Johannsen moved back to the Marblehead Peninsula after spending a decade in the Cleveland area, she discovered an unexpected opportunity in Lakeside.
It was a leap of faith, one that ultimately paid off for both Johannsen and the Lakeside community.
Johannsen has owned Lakeside Salon & Spa since 2003, and the year-round business remains Lakesiders’ go-to for hair care, manicures, pedicures, skincare and massages.
“I think it adds such a wonderful thing to Lakeside,” Johannsen. “We have a revolving door daily in here.”
Starting Backward
When Johannsen returned to the area, she found herself at a crossroads. After working various “odds and ends” jobs for a few years, she was ready to start a career and enrolled at Tiffin Academy to become a hairstylist. Around that same time, a family friend told her the salon in Lakeside, now home to SmoothieSide, was for sale. There was just one catch — Johannsen hadn’t started cosmetology school yet.
Fortunately, an opening at the school became available that September, allowing Johannsen to complete her training by late fall. After receiving her license in January 2003, she officially took over the Lakeside Beauty Salon she had purchased while still in school.
“That’s a big Hail Mary,” Johannsen said. “I think you have to trust what is nudging you to do something.”
Building the Business
The early days were slow. Most of the salon’s employees and customers had moved on, leaving Johannsen to build the business from scratch. For weeks, she saw only one or two clients a day, and the phone rarely rang. Social media hadn’t hit the internet yet, so she had to rely on word of mouth.
Her business picked up during the summer months, but retaining year-round staff remained a challenge. As Johannsen gradually built a reliable team, the salon’s appointment book continued to fill up.
Eventually, the business outgrew its original location. Johannsen approached Lakeside about relocating the salon to a larger space. Some places became available, but none were big enough to support her vision.
“I was trying to make it an expanded space for Lakeside, not for me,” Johannsen said. “We turned work down there constantly.”
After a few years of searching, a prime spot became available at 222 Walnut Avenue.
“Lakeside was so good at working with me,” Johannsen said. “My husband and I did all the design, and my husband’s a phenomenal helper.”
Johannsen opened the salon’s current location before the 2021 season. In addition to hair services, manicures and pedicures, she added massage and aesthetician rooms.
Today, the staff includes four stylists, three seasonal nail technicians, two receptionists, two massage and bodywork therapists and an aesthetician. The salon also carries popular professional hair products, hundreds of nail polish colors and Farmhouse Fresh skincare products, candles and fragrances made with natural and organic ingredients.
A “No Gossip Zone”
While salons are often stereotyped as places for gossip and politics, Johannsen has intentionally created a different atmosphere at Lakeside Salon & Spa. She believes clients come to relax, feel cared for and leave feeling better than when they arrived.
“We’re here to get people beautified and make them feel better,” Johannsen said.
That philosophy is important enough to be part of the hiring process. Johannsen looks for employees who focus on positive conversations rather than rumors or divisive topics. Instead, staff members connect with clients by asking about their families, vacations and everyday lives.
A Lakeside Staple
As one of Lakeside’s year-round businesses, the salon operates seven days a week during the Chautauqua summer season and six days a week the rest of the year.
Johannsen admits her long workdays often prevent her from fully experiencing everything Lakeside has to offer, though she occasionally finds time to visit the pool, attend Hoover shows or enjoy the Lakeside Talent Show.
“I’d love to be able to get the full experience of Lakeside, because it’s just so wonderful here,” Johannsen said. “There’s so much good stuff there that I miss out on because I’m working.”
Appointments for all salon and spa services can be made by calling 419-798-5590, visiting lakeside-salon-spa.square.site or stopping by the salon. Products are also available for purchase online.
Although Johannsen had little experience when she purchased the salon more than 20 years ago, Lakeside Salon & Spa quickly became a favorite among Lakesiders and those coming from outside the gates.
Even now, she says the success of the business is still hard to believe.
“The salon is a really wonderful thing,” Johannsen said. “I still pinch myself every day. It’s so magical in here.”
