YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Starting a business was never the intended career path of Alexandra “Alex” Galantis, who opened a full-service salon, AG Beauty Salon & Spa, at 137 Lincoln Ave. in April.
Galantis, a Youngstown State University student, became a nail technician three years ago to support herself while doing something she loved.
“It really wasn’t in my original plan to open a business,” says the 20-year-old. “I was going to become a teacher” and do nails on the side.
“I went to school at Raphael’s [School of Beauty Culture in Boardman] the summer between high school and college. I wasn’t planning on doing much with nails, but it grew into something more, and I eventually decided to open the salon,” says Galantis.
She will graduate from YSU this fall and plans to use her teaching degree as a backup plan.
Galantis, a Campbell native, knew that opening a salon in the YSU campus area would be the perfect way to provide full salon services to a community that previously lacked these services.
“[The salon] is in the middle of everything, it is not too far from the surrounding areas,” says Galantis, adding that she “really wanted to stay in the area and help bring more businesses back to Youngstown.”
She hopes that her salon will gain a loyal customer base of YSU students, faculty, staff and community members.
Galantis, an early childhood education major, has already seen fellow students and some professors stop in her salon for services.
She offers a 10% discount for YSU faculty and staff.
AG Beauty Salon & Spa offers “pretty much any kind of service you can think of,” she says.
The salon, which employs 11, is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Pictured at top: Customer Julia Williams gets a manicure from Alexandra Galantis, owner and nail technician at AG Beauty Salon & Spa near the YSU campus.