What was once a law office with vintage decor has been transformed into a bright white modern beauty salon.

The new business, called Salon Central, belongs to Angela Croonquist, who has been a hair stylist for 29 years in Fort Dodge. Salon Central, 805 Central Ave., Suite 503, opened Aug. 3.

“I just knew this was a perfect opportunity,” Croonquist said. “When COVID hit, I tried to make lemonade out of lemons. It’s the perfect building space and I was ready to just be with my clients and more one-on-one, less contamination.”

Pam Neill, of Austin, Texas, and her brother, Scott Croonquist, of Moorland, forming Snell Center LLC, bought the Snell Building from Matt Doyle, of Snell Building Incorporated. The sale was finalized in July, 2019.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Angela Croonquist, owner of Salon Central, poses near the front desk of her salon, Suite 503 at the Snell Building, 805 Central Ave.

At that time, Neill said she was open to a number of possibilities for the building, which was built in 1914.

Croonquist, of Moorland, had a vision for the approximately 800-square-foot space on the fifth floor, which used to house Attorney Kurt T. Pittner’s office.

“I liked the natural light and the view,” said Croonquist, a 1992 graduate of La’James International College.

One of the first things she noticed was a built-in shelf and light.

“It was kind of a soft mauve pink and didn’t really want to change that, so I tried to utilize that,” Croonquist said. “That’s how I came up with the tropical wallpaper. It had just enough pink in it to tie everything in. And those that know me know I love tropical plants. It’s a relaxing atmosphere that I thought I needed somehow to bring in an elegant but comfortable feeling.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Salon Central has a brand new look in what used to be Attorney Kurt T. Pittner’s law office on the fifth floor of the Snel Building.

The flooring is gray vinyl. The walls are pearl white.

Croonquist credits her husband, Scott for making her vision a reality.

“We started remodeling in late June because we both were working full-time and had a daughter playing softball at St. Edmond, so any free time we had was up here,” Croonquist said. “I could not have done it without him. His support and skills. He built my front desk and my cabinets above the shampoo bowls. And he did the flooring. And we pretty much painted every square inch in this area.”

The salon has four stations, which would allow other stylists to join her at some point. But for now Croonquist said she’s happy working solo.

She has previous experience at the Hair Gallery on 15th and Hair Receiver.

Croonquist, a Humboldt native, got her start at Headlines Hair Studio with Steve and Deborah Roe. She was there for about 15 years.

Salon Central is a full-service salon, offering family hair care, colors, perms, manicures, pedicures, acrylics and waxing.

A style cut is $28, colors start out at $50– if it’s multiple colors, it’s additional, men’s cut is $19, waxing is $12 and nails are $24.

Croonquist appreciates her previous experiences at Headlines.

“I give a lot of credit to Steve and Debbie Roe because they were barbers, so I learned some great techniques for clipper cuts,” she said. “When I first got out of beauty school that was my first job. Great mentoring.”

The COVID-19 pandemic was somewhat of a wake-up call for Croonquist, who said she greatly missed her customers.

“I didn’t realize how much energy and life I get from my clients,” she said. “With the COVID shutdown for two months, it took a toll on me. My clients are like family and I missed it so much. This is my livelihood. And I can’t express enough support and love that I get from my job. I wake up every morning and can’t wait to go to work because it’s not work to me. This is fun. Just walking in the front door and looking at the view.

“I walk in I see Corpus Christie steeple and the bright sky. It’s refreshing coming in.”

She tries her best for her customers.

“That’s what I love about what I do, is I understand my client, what they want sometimes is not the best thing for them,” Croonquist said. “So I have to persuade them that if they are going to want low maintenance hair, let’s try doing a baylayage color where I am just putting highlights toward the bottom, so they aren’t seeing the outgrowth at the top. They are still getting highlights but not having to worry about getting them redone in a month when you have an inch outgrowth.”

Croonquist is thrilled to be in the downtown area, which has been undergoing a series of cosmetic changes in recent months.

“I am hoping with my clients coming in and out that we can start bringing more business downtown because there are some great spaces down here. And I would love to have a new neighbor,” she said. “I see so much growth here and possibilities, that I felt it was time to try and add life down here.”

Salon Central is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Walk-ins are not suggested and appointments are appreciated.