Greensboro, NC -- What happens when a dream becomes reality...well just ask the staff of Leon's Beauty Salon.
This year the business is celebrating its 68 years!
The salon startedin onelocation on Tate St. in Greensboro in 1945. The salon was started by Ms. Parker Washburn's parents in the '40s, with only eight chairs.
"I think it very fulfilling to know that, what my parents started as a training program. So, people could number one make money, could find a career that they could stay with. And that it's still a part of the community," said Parker Washburn, owner and President of Leon's Beauty salon and school.
The first location was on Tate St., right across the street from current location near UNCG campus.
"Oh hard work...no doubt about it," said Washburn.
Washburn believes is a part of the "American Dream."
"To me it's kind of hard to say the "American Dream" to me it's a Greensboro dream, it's a Guilford county dream, because we are down home. I mean we are here and we've been here. So, in some small part it is the American dream but for me this is a Greensboro dream."
TheLeon's hair empirehas grown to eight salons and a beauty school. The school teaches about 150 students a year. And Washburn says, she owes the salon's success to her wonderful staff.
"It's really the hard to accept all the pride because honestly it is the staff and employees, who have really maintained the success of this company."
The staff told News 2, they are not planning anything big for this year but will soon be planning for the 70th year anniversary.
