Stylists of the J.C. Penney Salon at Northgate Mall can tell you exactly the day and time they were told the 42-year-old store was closing its doors.
“Jan. 15 at 2 p.m.,” said Penney stylist of 19 years Christine Zaloum, without even pausing to think about it. “We’ll never forget that day and time.”
“We didn’t see it coming,” added salon manager Kim Spence, who’s been with the salon for the past 10 years. “If [Penney] hadn’t closed, none of us would have ever left J.C. Penney.”
But suddenly, the women found themselves out of a job that included benefits, paid vacations and, for some, decades of memories.
After the initial shock waned, six of the longtime stylists regrouped and looked to the future.