Licensed cosmetologist seeks community support for new Boardman salon
Community members have the chance to be a part of building something new in Boardman.
Licensed cosmetologist Angela Venable returned home to Ohio and decided to pursue a lifelong dream of opening her own business.
“I’ve worked for General Motors for 30 years, and I’m coming close to retirement,” she said. “I also do hair. I want to start my own business because after working for somebody for so many years now, I want to give back to my community.”
Venable is establishing Culture Suites LLC with help from business partners, Valley Partners and individual community members who contribute to her GoFundMe.
She’s asking for donations to help cover the costs of things like legal fees, renovations, utilities, equipment and furnishing.
“We’re still in the beginning but I did my business proposal and found the building,” she said. “The only thing that’s really stopping this right now is my funding.”
Beauty professionals, including aestheticians, barbers, braiders and nail artists, will be able to rent their own spaces within Culture Suites in Boardman to build their business.
“I’ve found that people want more privacy when they get their hair done if we’re dealing with some type of issues with our hair, or just want the one-on-one with your stylist,” Venable said. “The reason I called it Culture Suites is I want it to be mixed. Most of the time when you go into salons, if you’re Black, you stay over there, and if you’re Caucasian, you’re with your own. I don’t want it to be just one race. I want different cultures there.”
Having a mix of stylists at Culture Suites who specialize in all types of hair will allow everyone to grow and learn from one another, according to Venable.
“Hopefully this takes off very well, and I can put it in other communities, like in Liberty and Austintown. I’m hoping that this dream right here comes true and I can expand and hopefully one day, maybe have a franchise of them. I want to help the community and give back because I’m from Youngstown. As cold and as weird as the weather may be, it’s home,” she said.
