Marion beauty salon owner Sue Brammer retires after 52 years in business

A Marion County beauty salon that has been in business for the past 45 years is closing its doors on July 1.

Today's Trend Salon, located at 708 E. Center St. in Marion, has been owned and operated by Sue Brammer since she first began serving area residents back in 1977. Altogether, she has been working as a hairdresser for 52 years.

"I worked at two other places before I opened got a shop of my own," said Sue, who is retiring from the business effective July 1. "Then we opened the shop up in '77. My little shop (on the corner of E. Center and Baker streets) had three little chairs and just a couple of parking spots up front and that's it. There was a maternity shop there when we moved in. (Husband Perry Brammer) had to re-do the whole inside. He did it all."

As her customer base increased, it became clear to Sue that she needed a larger space to accommodate the growing business. In 1979, Sue and Perry moved her salon to its current location at 708 E. Center St.

"I just kept thinking, 'I need parking,' and I kept driving by (the building at 708 E. Center St.) and seeing this big 'for sale' sign out front," she said. "So we moved here in 1979 and we re-did this building. We opened on Aug. 7, that's our wedding anniversary."

Over the years, Sue said, she's had as many as 10 employees on staff at Today's Trend Salon, including both of her daughters, Lisa Moser and Amy Johnson, and several friends.

"Two of my very good friends worked for me for 20 years," she said. "My oldest daughter, Lisa, she worked for me for 20 years. And Amy has worked with me for 30 years. She came right from beauty school and started working here. It's been quite a ride. It has. Just like getting on one of the big rollercoasters, you have your ups and downs."

Sue said her customers have supported Today's Trend Salon "1,000%" over the years.

"Oh my. They feel like they're home here," she said. "This is really going to hurt their hearts because of having to close. The people who come here feel like family. We've had a very successful business."

Sue noted that the decision to close the salon was due to health concerns. She has struggled physically since undergoing shoulder replacement surgery two years ago, she said.

"I have been very ill the last, little over two years now and haven't been able to work," she shared. "The doctors made me retire. Amy has just plunged right in and a lot of my clients stayed with her because it's home. And we've always had that feeling of home. They could always depend on us, working them in, doing whatever, surprises, and they actually love it. They loved being here. And it's going to be hard."

Perry Brammer, who worked for 33 years at Marion Power Shovel before retiring, has been the handyman for Sue since she opened her salon 45 years ago. His career also included working 10 years as building superintendent at Emmanuel Lutheran Church and has spent the past six years working in maintenance at the Marion Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

With her mother's business closing, Amy Johnson, youngest daughter of Sue and Perry Brammer, is moving to another salon in Marion. She will begin a new career at Hair Designers, located at 553 E. Center St. in Marion, in mid July.

"Betty Terrazas is the owner of (Hair Designers) and I've known her for years. I just felt the most peace there when I looked around at different places to transition," Amy said. 

"I think she feels like that's home, too," Sue added. "Everybody there is going to be comfortable and that's what she was looking for."

Amy said that Today's Trend Salon will always hold a special place in her heart.

"I didn't just work here, I grew up here. It's a second home," she said. "She's been busting her butt here for as long as I can remember. So it's not just me leaving my workplace, it's leaving my childhood. I used to ride my little pink bike up here. It's very bittersweet for me and for our family in general, but we know it's time for them to make a change. They're ready to retire and not have to take care of all this anymore. I think they deserve a little bit of peace now so they can focus on themselves."

Amy said a retirement party for her mother is scheduled at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 26 at the salon, located at 708 E. Center St. in Marion. She said friends and customers are invited to celebrate Sue 's career and wish her well in retirement.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter