Hair Salon Reopens Without Owner, Lost To The Coronavirus

RIVERHEAD, NY — It was a bittersweet reopening for a salon in Riverhead Wednesday that lost its longtime owner, a champion of the downtown business community, to the coronavirus.

Raymond Pickersgill, owner of the Robert James Salon and a former Riverhead Business Improvement District president, died in April at 71.

Pickersgill was remembered by many as a bright light in downtown revitalization efforts and a "force for Riverhead" behind many popular events — including Alive on 25, the Cardboard Boat Race, the indoor Farmers Market, fireworks and a well-loved antique car show.

Pickersgill's daughter Lisa, who will continue to run the salon with her mother Margaret, said the business welcomed customers Wednesday with new safety protocols mandated by the state's phase 2 reopening plan, which included hairdressers, barber shops, retail businesses and outdoor dining.

"We have worked tirelessly at updating, cleaning and revising protocols with everything in place," Lisa said.

Currently, walk-ins are not accepted and appointments must be booked by phone. In addition, the business must operate at 50 percent capacity, with no assistant.

"We do one client at a time. They feel like a celebrity with a private appointment," Lisa said. Staff now uses masks and sanitizes stations between each guest, all while maintaining 6-foot social distancing guidelines. At the present time, no complimentary coffee or snacks can be given, she said.

Still, even with the new rules, Lisa said: "The clients are happy with the service — and safe. We are fortunate to be able to schedule our salon this way."

Despite the relief at reopening, her father's loss is palpable, Lisa said.

"It’s great to be back, but bittersweet that he’s not physically with me and comforting me," she said.

Her father, she said, had a vision as the family worked tirelessly to build the business on Main Street 17 years ago; the brick-and-mortar salon was her dream realized. Her parents, she said, shared a deep love for one another, and for their daughter.

"He and my mom supported me in my passion," Lisa said, adding he had a fierce affinity for his "adopted" town.

"He would have been so happy and excited that we've reopened," she said.

The business has weathered the storms, literally, Lisa said — but her father never wavered in his positive outlook and ability to remain upbeat despite the uphill battles to revitalize a downtown pitted with challenges.

"Just like after [Hurricane] Sandy in 2012, when he had gotten pneumonia from being in our building every day with no electricity or heat," she said. "He was always busy orchestrating the plan, revising it, thinking of how to get us back up."

After his devastating loss, Lisa said she and her mother have been lifted up by the kindness of friends who have come together to support her family in the face of tragedy — friendships her father had nurtured over decades.

One of the best parts of reopening, Lisa said, "is to get our staff working again, the women and men on our team who have always been impeccably hardworking. Single moms and individuals who are dependent on these jobs, the main income in most of their homes."

Her father, Lisa said, imbued invaluable life lessons, including the idea of shattering stereotypes surrounding gender, and in the industry itself.

"I have been taught so many skills by my dad. To be self-sufficient in life," she said.

She was fully supported by her father, Lisa said, in her decision to attend BOCES and attain her certification in cosmetology, instead of going to a traditional college "just for the sake of going."

Over the years, the staff has had educators in color companies onboard; the team has even traveled abroad for classes and brought in local famous industry leaders to enlighten, she said.

"That was my father's mission," she said. "There were no gender specific jobs in our home. I actually physically built our salons with my father. He taught me, 'Be the most educated in your field, so you can always be free to do for yourself, and not be dependent on anyone.'"

Lisa carried those lessons close Wednesday as she returned to the salon she and her dad built with love.

"Having that knowledge in my heart, and the support locally of family and friends, it was an amazing day to open the doors once again, after the entire world faced these tragic couple of months," Lisa said. "I could hear him saying,'All right! Great job, Bud. I'm so proud of you all."