Orlana Gardner will never forget the first day her business, Lanie’s Beauty Salon, was open to the public at 112 W. Third Street in Montgomery City on Jan. 31, 1974.

“It was crazy busy with five operators here at one time,” Gardner said.

For the next 49 years, Lanie’s Beauty Salon was a popular place for Montgomery County residents. But at about 4 p.m. on May 26, the shop will close for good just eight months before its 50th anniversary.

Gardner plans to retire as beauty salon owner. She said she decided to step down after she recently experienced COVID-19 related symptoms.

“My goal was to make it to 50 (years),” Gardner said. “But with COVID, I thought it was time to give it up, unfortunately.”

Gardner said it will be emotional when her shop closes down. She has about 15 appointments on the final day.

“Last Thursday (May 11th), a young man came in and I’ve been cutting his hair for years,” Gardner said. “He gave me a really sweet card with $50. I just cried. It will be hard.”

Gardner will celebrate her retirement by going on an Alaskan cruise with a friend on May 27. Her husband of 45 years, Gary, will not be going on the trip.

“He does not want to travel,” Gardner said. “He was a truck driver for 50 years. Going on the road all of the time, he’s not interested in traveling like I am. But he doesn’t care that I go.”

Gardner opened her salon at a building which was formerly a barber shop. Coffee and donuts were offered to customers during the grand opening weekend on Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 1974.

The salon also offered permanent wave specials. Back then, the prices ranged between $10-$15. Currently, the price for a permanent wave is $40.

“Most places are $50 to $60,” Gardner said. “Isn’t that crazy how much stuff was back then?”

Gardner’s staff members in the first year of business included Judy Cunningham, Teresa Weiser, Frances Cullom and Brenda Devlin. All of them went their separate ways years later.

“It’s one of those professions in which the grass looks greener on the other side of the hill,” Gardner said. “Becky Hadden, who is deceased now, left here and decided to open her own shop and all of my help went with her. That was 38 years ago.”

Gardner was born and raised in the Montgomery City area. After graduating from Montgomery County High School in 1969, Gardner was influenced by her parents to open a beauty salon.

“I left a beauty shop called the Powder Puff back in the day,” Gardner said. “It was my first job. It was over there where Bainbridge Insurance is (Second Street in Montgomery City). The lady who owned it sold it to somebody else. There was a guy who became the boss. I decided to open my shop. I had a three-year old son, so it was a good way to make a living.”