Longtime Zeeland salon gets new owner, new image, new style

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

119 E. Main in Zeeland has been a hair salon for more than 60 years. Most recently known as Studio 119, the salon got new owners about a month ago, a new image and a new name – Eden Salon and Day Spa.

Shandra Strowenjans, 25, and her fiancé Gerald Redwine, 29, bought the salon after Strowenjans worked there about a year as a stylist. Born and raised in Zeeland, Strowenjans attended college for a fine arts degree.

"I was an artist to start with, and it wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do," she says. "I always wanted to do hair, and when I started it was exactly what I wanted to do. This opportunity came up and it was perfect timing. The salon needed some people who are really gung ho about following new trends and trying new things."

In addition to the standard salon offerings of cuts and color, Eden Salon offers manicures, pedicures, full service massage, reflexology, tanning, waxing and airbrush tanning.

"We added eyelash services; clients can get strip lashes or individual lashes that last about two weeks," Strowenjans says. "And we added a tea and relaxation room, which is more day-spa like."

She adds that the transformation of the salon is still in process. Plans include possibly removing the drop ceiling to add another seven feet to the room height, and replacing all the fluorescent lights with track lighting.

Repainting in earthy browns, greens and tans has created a relaxed ambience.

Strowenjans retained the salon's five existing stylists, including the former owner, and added two more. She also added a massage therapist and receptionist, and currently seeks another experienced stylist and a nail technician.

Source: Shandra Strowenjans, Eden Salon and Day Spa; Abigail deRoo, City of Zeeland

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].