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By CHRISTINA COSDON
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 13, 2001
For more than a dozen years, best friends Dena Remy and Barbara Towriss worked together as self-employed hairdressers, renting space in other businesses.
"We always worked in large, very busy places," Mrs. Remy said. "But we wanted to be in a smaller, more relaxing workplace."
They decided the only way to have what they wanted was to open their own salon. It took them a year to find the right place, a former dental laboratory at 9303 Seminole Blvd.
"One of our clients found this for us," said Mrs. Remy. "It's in a professional building with a little over 1,000 square feet. It's just right for us."
The women, equal partners in the business, spent $20,000 for equipment and remodeling.
They decorated with black and neutral colors, using black wrought iron, rugs with black designs and lots of plants. Customers are offered coffee and pastries in the morning, wine and cheese in the afternoon.
Pools of cut hair aren't on the floor very long. "We're clean fanatics," Mrs. Remy said. "The hair gets swept up. I love shiny, clean floors."
Salon 9303 opened last fall with three employees and has expanded to seven, not including the owners, said Mrs. Remy, 38. Both women live in St. Petersburg. Mrs. Towriss is 35.
Employees include a nail and pedicure technician, receptionist, shampoo assistant and hairdressers.
"We specialize in weddings," Mrs. Remy said. "We do bridal hair and makeup here in the salon or go to homes or where the weddings will take place."
The salon's regular business includes hairstyling, color, highlighting and perms for children, men and women. The owners attend international hairstyling and product shows twice a year, Mrs. Remy said.
"Our main goal here, is to have a clean, relaxing atmosphere," Mrs. Remy said.
CellPage is collecting deactivated cell phones that are still in working condition and their compatible chargers during the week of June 18. After reconditioning, the phones are to be distributed to several local shelters for abused women and their children, said company manager Brandy Horton.
The phones can be dropped off at CellPage, in business 14 years at 8100 Park Blvd., between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday-Friday or call the office at 545-2886.
Rick and Wendy Brown are the newest sales associates at Realty Executives Adamo & Associates, 7676 Seminole Blvd. Mrs. Brown previously worked as a processor and sales representative for a title company. Before working in real estate, Brown was in construction and maintenance for the city of Treasure Island. The Browns specialize in residential sales, relocations and first-time homebuyers.
The business will be moving soon to expanded quarters at 8486 Seminole Blvd. Adamo said the free-standing building is being completely renovated and should be ready for occupancy in July.
Nicole E. Walsh of Century 21 Real Estate Champions, 9021 Oakhurst Road and 4350 Duhme Road, has completed a program designed to help agents find homes for retirement-age adults. She has a master's degree in gerontology from the University of South Florida and is a licensed nursing home administrator. She was a director of Alzheimer's care before beginning a real estate career.
Yordan Entchev has joined Century 21 Grand Realty, 6450 Seminole Blvd. A native of Sofia, Bulgaria, he lived in Wilmington, Del., for many years before moving to Pinellas County. He is fluent in English, Russian, German and his native Bulgarian.
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