GENESEE COUNTY/The Personal Preference Salon and Spa in Le Roy is celebrating 35 years with a few of their favorite things on Saturday from 11am-3pm

From left-Lori Steinbrenner, owner, Julie Laurie (1993), Brooke Werner (2023), and Tonya Swyers (2021), with her Salon dog “Oliver” who keeps everyone company. The Personal Preference Salon & Spa is open Tuesday -Saturday. (Link to Facebook page (20+) Facebook)

Thirty-five years has passed since Lori Steinbrenner established The Personal Preference Salon & Spa, located at 34 Main St. in the Village of Le Roy.

While much time has gone by, Steinbrenner and her team of experienced professional stylists are as passionate as ever about delivering quality and friendly service to their clients.

So, in celebration of its longevity, the salon is welcoming LeRoyans and residents of the surrounding communities to Saturday’s “Springing into Thirty-five Years” event, starting at 11 a.m. and continuing until 3 p.m.

“We’ll be featuring all our favorite things,” said Steinbrenner, who purchased the building and the business (Bev’s Beauty Shop) in 1990 from previous owner Bev Malone.

Those “favorite things” include:

— The new two main spring collection with Indigo Luxe, Pastique, Becky’s Homegrown Bouquets & Wandering Wellness G.O.A.T. Organics collection.

— Adorn Ink by Becca tiny tattoos.

— Honey Bee Accessories (hat bar and permanent jewelry).

— Petals & flour cookies.

— Robin’s Nest custom gift baskets.

— Hair tinsel by Brooke.

— Golden Glow spray tans by Lindsay.

— Beach break and beyond travel by Jodi.

— Mary Kay by Hailey Marciano.

Steinbrenner with her lifelong client Auntie Cheech, her 93-year-old Aunt, Celia Citanovich, who comes to the salon once a week and loves every minute of it.

Steinbrenner’s road to becoming a master stylist and salon proprietor started at Genesee Valley BOCES, where she accumulated 500 hours of training.

“I went to BOCES in my senior year, and I was going for computer science,” she recalled. “I was in it for about two weeks, and I hated it. And my mother said, I always wanted to be a hairdresser. I wish you would go for hairdressing.

“And I always dragged my feet and said, ‘I don’t want to do that.’ Well, I decided to do it. My BOCES teacher was Anne Marie Wood from Batavia – an amazing teacher and a dear, forever friend.”

From there, Steinbrenner completed her 1,000 hours at Continental, and then worked for Malone at a shop across the street from McDonald’s before heading to 34 Main St.

The Main Street structure, itself, has quite a history, having been the site of the G.H. Ellis & Co. ice cream and candy store from 1938-73, before becoming Moddco’s in 1974, The Bakery in 1980 and Bev’s in the late ‘80s.

Steinbrenner said being on Main Street “has been such a joy and blessing.”

“I love our little town and being part of our community,” she offered. “My staff and I take pride in welcoming all of our clients with a smile, great conversations, lots of laughs and beautiful styles.”

(Provided photo)

Other members of her team are Julie Laurie, a master stylist who started her career at the salon in 1993; Tonya Swyers, a master stylist who has been with the business for four years; and Brooke Werner, in her second year at the salon, who has Master of Balayage and Updo Stylist certification.

Steinbrenner with Julie Laurie, the pair have been together since 1993 at the salon

Steinbrenner said she enjoys meeting new people and building relationships – and infusing a bit of creativity into her work.

“It’s the friendships. It’s doing something different, it’s fun and it’s creative,” she said. “You know you’ve found your niche when it’s not like work at all.”