Sunday, July 19, 2009 1:11 AM CDT
Pacesetters in Mattoon soon to be owned by longtime employee
By CHRIS ESSIG, Staff Intern
MATTOON — Flat tops, male perms, precision hair cuts and the latest rugged look are just a few of the hair styles Susan Riggert has handled in the last 25 years.
The founder and owner of Pacesetters Full Services Salon, located in Mattoon, has seen it all. But soon she will be watching the latest trends from the sidelines as Riggert is hanging up her trimmers later this year.
Jane Dearing, who has worked at the salon the entire 25 years it has been in business, is planning to buy Pacesetters. The two are working on the necessary paperwork to get that accomplished in the coming months, Riggert said.
Riggert has worked in the field of cosmetology a total of 47 years, moving from college jobs to owning Pacesetters. Before opening the Mattoon salon, Riggert was the director of cosmetology at Olney Central College.
Cosmetology has been a family affair for Riggert. Her mother founded the school of cosmetology at Lake Land College and co-owned the shop in Mattoon for about a year after it opened.
The shop used to be located behind the old IGA on Lake Land Boulevard but moved across the street into the Good Neighbor Shopping Center nine years ago.
The move into the smaller building, which took less than a week, helped keep costs down, she said.
Many of the trends that Riggert has seen over the years have been propelled by celebrities; she cited Jacqueline Kennedy, Farrah Fawcett and Dorothy Hamill as examples.
“It changes constantly,” she said. “I think that’s what we like about it.
“I’m still learning after all these years,” she added.
Riggert said they have not had trouble keeping on top of the latest styles.
“Once you have certain skills you can adapt them to anything,” she said.
A few of the shop’s six stylists are also younger, she said, which has helped.
Riggert said her time has “gone very fast,” and she is still adjusting to her plans of retirement. She said reaching retirement age snuck up on her.
“I’m here; now what?” she said.
Right now, she has no immediate plans for retirement, although she has considered working part time at the shop.
Pacesetters is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, although they tend to closer earlier on Saturday.
Contact Chris Essig at cessig@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.
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Billie Brant wrote on Jul 20, 2009 7:45 AM:
Susan, my friend and hairdresser for the last 25 years( it's been THAT long?) enjoy your retirement. I'm glad you'll be around for a little while to take care of my tresses. No one has ever done it better. Don't hang up those shears too soon. :-) "