By Rebecca Cross
Class, glamour and comfort abound at LeBlanc Salon on Poindexter Street. As wedding season is upon us, Rita LeBlanc, Owner, and Ashley Roddy are ready for bridal consultations and makeovers. LeBlanc Salon celebrated two years of business in Downtown Elizabeth City in June 2010, and they have grown to serve 30-40 clients each week. Weddings and proms are Rita’s favorite consultations as she customizes each look to best complement each clients’ features. “Girls are so excited, [and] I love it when they feel really good about themselves,” said Rita, “It is a special day for them and there is a lot of good energy.” Rita does more than weddings though. The services the Salon provides include haircuts, color, highlights, facial waxing, perms, updos and make up. They serve the whole family: men, women and children.
Rita started “making over” her 2 sisters at the age of 12, and has loved it ever since. She worked doing hair and makeup and earned her cosmetology license about 5 years ago upon moving to Elizabeth City. When asked why she likes being downtown, Rita replied, “There is so much potential here – it’s absolutely beautiful. I like the city feel of it and there is more character than anywhere else.” She also commented that the downtown businesses are very supportive of each other. “I love chocolate from the Chocolate House – it’s my favorite place except for my own shop!”
The Salon serves a diverse clientele from downtown, Hertford, Virginia and even a client from Florida whenever she is in town. The mission of the Salon is to make people feel better about themselves, raise their self esteem, and provide a safe, listening ear. It is also important to Rita to keep up with the times and provide the most current styles. “I want to offer exceptional customer service with utmost excellence in everything we do,” said Rita, “This is not just a job – [I am] very detail oriented. I am extremely passionate about what I do and it comes right after my first passion which is my 7 year old son.”
Rita says her son is her favorite hobby, but she is involved in the community in other ways as well. She is active at New Life Family Center and participates in their Albemarle Resource Center (ARC) food distributions once a month. The ARC feeds 180 or more families on the first Thursday of each month by providing a grocery cart full of food including meat, fruit, veggies, toiletries and dry goods. That concern for others is evident in the way she runs her Salon. “I want to give the highest quality with the most reasonable prices. I understand the economy and want people to come back,” Rita commented. The Salon’s hours are Tuesday through Friday 10:00 to 5:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 2:00; closed Sunday and Monday. Please call for an appointment. LeBlanc Salon, 112 Poindexter St, 252-335-2598.