|
Katie's in Wellsville: A Main
Street anchor for decades
By Ty
Rogers
May 4, 2009 | WELLSVILLE -- When Katie Turner started
her hair styling career 50 years ago, a hair cut cost
$1.50. She only got half of that for working. Today,
a hair cut costs $12 at Katie's Hair Corner, 99 E. Main
Street. Katie has worked there for 41 years, but bought
the corner lot 32 years ago. Katie has one employee
that has been working part time with her for 12 years.
The salon opens up at 6:30 a.m. every day. "Most of
my clients used to have kids, now they are just used
to coming in so early," Katie said. There is a barbershop
next door but only because the salon before it couldn't
compete with Katie and her growing clientele.
There are multiple spaces along Main Street where
small businesses try to get off the ground, and in 41
years, she has seen a lot of them try. "Everybody just
comes and goes, but I'm still here," she said.
Since last June, prices have only raised a dollar.
The winter season is the only time things really slow
down in the corner shop. She tries to keep her prices
competitive and has had the same customers for a long
time.
"Most of my clientele are retirees and I know they
appreciate it," Katie said.
There are 125 licensed businesses in Wellsville. Almost
all of those small businesses are home occupancies and
generally serve as a second job for the citizens that
own them. The single commercial business is the gas
station and Burger King combination located on Highway
89-91.
The other large businesses in Wellsville are the American
West Heritage Center and Sherwood Hills Resort. In December,
35-40 people lost their jobs when Northern Utah Manufacturing
shut down. The closing was not related to the economy
but was closed due to a foreign subsidy.
"We are happy with any businesses we can get here,"
said City Manager Don Hartle.
Hartle says that the economic recession affected everybody,
and Wellsville has certainly felt some minor effects.
Sales taxes are down slightly as well as road funds.
There won't be any raise for city employees this year
but Hartle believes this is the norm in neighboring
cities.
Hartle considers Wellsville a bedroom community but
believes in his community and considers things to be
fairly stable. "I took the precautions 25 years ago,"
Hartle said. He takes pride in his budgeting, and says
that property taxes haven't risen at all in his 25 years
of being the city manager.
According to Merchantcircle.com, almost half of small
businesses in the country employ between two and five
people, and makes up their main source of income. Most
small businesses and home occupancies are not paid hourly,
but for the amount of work they complete. This generally
leads to more pride in their work and better quality.
When things get slow around Katie's Hair Corner, you
can find her with her crochet hook and yarn, or reading
a book. "The other day, a woman from Nevada came in
right in the middle of knitting class," she said.
Katie tries to have fun with her salon and her customers.
Since she bought the corner lot 32 years ago, the only
thing that has changed is the color of her chairs and
the size of her Tweety Bird collection.
"I've been doing hair for 50 years, and things just
roll along," said Katie.
NW
MS |
