Some creepy but benevolent characters from the Tim Burton classic 1988 movie Beetlejuice were haunting a newly established Bellefontaine salon Friday, just in time to usher in Halloween today. Beetlejuice himself, along with Barbara, Adam and Lydia were on hand to celebrate the opening of Belle Beauty at 310 Water Ave., after nearly a 1 1/2 years of renovations to the facility.
Owner Kayli Lewis, dressed as Lydia for the occasion, said the full-service salon officially opened Oct. 10, and is looking forward to a celebratory open house event from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, including a ribbon cutting with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce.
Now an open and spacious salon offering hair care, skin care and nail services in a bright and inviting setting, Lewis related that it took many months of extensive renovations to transform a formerly gutted building into the professional space. Her husband Trenton’s company, T. Lewis Remodeling, helped to revamp the property since purchasing it in June of 2021.
“When we purchased the building, we knew we had a ton of work to do. It didn’t have any plumbing or electric and there were holes in the walls,” Lewis said. “It’s been through Trenton’s expertise and a lot of hard work put in by our family and friends that we’re here today in this beautiful space. We’re so grateful for everyone who pitched it to transform it into a salon we’re excited to work in.”
Also working alongside Lewis, a nail technician, are cosmetologist Lindsey Chismar and nail technician and esthetician Cynthia Sheldon. Chismar got into the spooky spirit Friday in a black and white striped Beetlejuice suit, while Sheldon dressed as Beetlejuice character Adam. Lewis’ mother Kathy Huey, another regular face around the salon, dressed as Adam’s wife, Barbara, with a 1980s jumper and teased-up hair. Maegan Evilsizor also is an advanced esthetician at the salon.
The salon staff/Beetlejuice cast enjoyed a fun tie-in Friday inside Belle Beauty’s Beetlejuice-theme bathroom, an ode to Lewis’ love of Tim Burton films. Lewis hand-painted artwork on the bathroom walls and enjoyed decorating the space with the black-and-white Beetlejuice vibe.
While working as a nail technician since her graduation from Benjamin Logan High School in 2011, Lewis said she has grown into loving creating nail art for clients and discovering her artistic side.
“I didn’t really think of myself as being artistic before I became a nail tech. It’s been really fun to learn and practice a lot and grow into that role. It’s a skill that’s fun to share with my clients,” said the Huntsville area resident, who noted that she was able to graduate early from high school and complete her schooling and nail technician certification at the age of 18.
Lewis has since worked in the industry for about 11 years, including at salons in Columbus, Bellefontaine and most recently in Russells Point.
Belle Beauty’s motto “the fountaine of youth” and its pineapple logo and pineapple items all around the salon are all nods to Bellefontaine.
“With the pineapple in our logo, we are focused on friendship and creating a friendly atmosphere here. We want everyone to feel comfortable walking in,” Lewis said.
The salon features late night and weekend hours, including from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Appointments can be booked anytime on the salon’s website, bellebeautyohio.com, or by using Vagaro app; or call (937) 404-4005.