BUCKHANNON – A brand new salon with a familiar face behind it has opened its doors next to the 88 Restaurant & Lounge.

Salon 88 had its official ribbon cutting June 1, but owner Pam Cuppari Bucklew said they have been open since May 5.

“I decided to go out on my own again,” Bucklew said during a Buckhannon-Upshur Retail Merchants Association ribbon cutting Monday morning. “My sister’s working part time with me, and combined, we have about 55 to 60 years of experience. Robbie (Del. Carl ‘Robbie’ Martin, owner of the Bicentennial Inn and 88 Restaurant & Lounge) discussed this about three years ago and I needed to go to work ASAP, so this worked out really well. I came to him just before the pandemic happened and said, ‘I’m ready,’ and this helped us both out.”

Bucklew said she previously owned her own salon for 32 years and then went to another shop for about two-and-a-half years, but she decided to open up her own shop again.

“I didn’t necessarily agree with some things at the place I was working before, so I thought it was time for me to get back on my own, and I’m not ready to retire,” Bucklew said. “I want to still work at least another five years and even if I do go part time, I will still be doing two days a week.”

The salon offers traditional hair services like coloring and perms and they will also have pedicures and waxing available.

“We have three entrances to go into the shop, and we took two motel rooms and combined it to make one big room,” Bucklew said. “In one area, which would have been a bathroom for one of the guest rooms, I made it my dispensary so all my products and things I use on customers are all back there.”

Bucklew’s sister, Lamona Casto. said she started cutting hair in 1971 and this will be the first time she will be working with her sister.

“We’re very accommodating, and we have a lot of experience between us,” Casto said. “It’s convenient, it’s comfortable and it’s a nice place to come.”

The salon will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and Bucklew said once or twice a month she plans to be open on Saturdays. Currently, salons are not able to accept walk-ins, so Bucklew said to call 304-439-1086 to make an appointment.