When Peggy’s Beauty Shop was first open for business, Ronald Reagan was still president, “The Cosby Show” was still the No. 1 show on television and an Australian rock group called INXS hit the top of the charts with “Need You Tonight.”

The shop opened on Feb. 2, 1988 on the north side of Montgomery City and immediately became one of the popular businesses in town.

But at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the shop’s 38-year run will come to an end as its owner, Lou Claussen, plans to retire.

“Everybody has been really good and supportive,” Claussen said. “I had a few (customers) crying because I am closing. They didn’t know what they’re going to do. It broke my heart. But I like, ‘I can’t do it forever, guys. I’m getting older, too.’”

The final day of business has already been booked with appointments throughout the morning and most of the afternoon. Claussen said one of the best parts of the shop – which is located at 709 North Sturgeon – during its 38 years of business was having plenty of walk-ins.

“That’s what kept us afloat all of these years,” Claussen said.

Claussen and Peggy Poindexter opened the shop in 1988. They were working at a beauty shop on Second Street when they decided to start their own business. They worked together in the hair styling business for 45 years.

“She asked me to come down here with her,” Claussen said. “I said sure.”

Claussen remembered the shop being open during inclement weather conditions.

“We had people pull up in their tractors on really bad snow days,” she said. “They were in town getting groceries and they thought they could stop by and get a haircut, too.”

Claussen said from the first day of business, her shop attracted plenty of customers from Tuesday to Saturday.

“It would be all regulars all the weeks,” she said. “We probably had at least 20 to 30 regulars each week. Those loyal customers are the ones who keep us going.”

The shop’s staff also included Pam Simmons, who retired several years ago.
Claussen said Bob Starr was the owner of the building where the shop opened. It was an ice cream shop and a soup and sandwich place before it became a beauty salon.

Now, the City of Montgomery owns the building which includes a police station and City Hall. Claussen said she is working on removing her equipment and supplies out of the beauty shop.

“I have given away quite a bit already,” Claussen said. “I’m trying to find somebody to take the mirrors. I already got rid of one hydraulic chair.”

Claussen, who was raised in Bellflower, will retire from the hairstyling business after 48 years on Wednesday. She became the shop’s owner after Poindexter retired and ran the business for more than two years.

“It’s starting to get to my back,” Claussen said. “I don’t want to make that a permanent thing. It’s time to give it up. I’m getting a little burned out on it. We do have a booming business, though. Nobody wants to take the walk-ins. That’s a problem. Everybody is going to be missing the walk-ins.”