Leader Staff
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Mary Lou Richter, left, and her husband, Don Richter, in their new Fantastic Sam’s salon on Shawano’s east side.
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Employees of the new Fantastic Sam’s hair salon learn the telephone system and other operations in the salon on Shawano’s east side.
A former ice cream parlor on Shawano’s east side has been transformed into a Fantastic Sam’s hair salon.
Franchise owners Don and Mary Lou Richter have selected Shawano as the site of their third Fantastic Sam’s location, which opened this week.
The salon is located in the space formerly occupied by the Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream parlor, next to Subway sandwiches at 1230 E. Green Bay St.
Don Richter said he and his wife prefer small or mid-sized communities and were looking for a chance to open a shop in Shawano. They have hired six hair stylists and two receptionists from the area, with the hope that employees will make strong connections with customers.
“We like to be involved in the community,” he said.
The couple opened their first Fantastic Sam’s in 2009 in Marinette, followed by another two years later in Plymouth.
The new Shawano salon is open seven days a week for haircuts on a walk-in basis.