Sudbury hair salon marks 50 years in business

Small business owners can face numerous obstacles in their journey to reaching operational success.

A hair salon in Greater Sudbury’s south end is marking a major milestone – one very few businesses ever reach.

La Moda Hair Studio was started in 1973 and has been in business in Sudbury's south end for 50 years. (Angela Gemmill/CTV News Northern Ontario)La Moda Hair Studio has been in business for 50 years.

The salon was started in 1973 by business partners Cesare Marasco and Mario Greco with Lianne Depatie taking it over in 2005 when Marasco retired.

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Deptaie told CTV News that many clients have been coming for decades with several telling her they remember coming to the salon as young children – now their children are also her clients, she added.

Bella Croisier said she has been coming to Depatie to get her hair styled for the past eight years.

“I just really love the environment and it’s a really great place to come,” said Croisier.

“I love Lianne, she’s super talented at what she does; she’s really friendly and personable, and it’s always a great time. We have great conversations when we’re here.”

There are five hair stylists currently working at La Moda. Each one sees about 10 clients a day.

Stylist Vicki Doyle said she thinks part of the success of the business is the long-time location in the city’s Four Corners neighbourhood.

“But I think mostly it’s just La Moda, 'cause La Moda has been here for 50 years. People of all ages come; people that are in their 70s, 80s,” she said.

“So many come back and they just remember coming here as little kids themselves.”

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La Moda Hair Studio in Greater Sudbury’s south end has been in business for 50 years. Current owner Lianne Depatie told CTV News that success is due to the connections the stylists have with their clients. (Angela Gemmill/CTV News Northern Ontario)Depatie believes La Moda has been able to stay in business over the past five decades because of the connections the stylists all have with their clients, calling them ‘family.’

“At the end of the day this business wouldn’t be open without them,” said Depatie.

“It just goes to show how important for the community to support small local businesses – because of them we’ve been able to be successful.”

As for the future of La Moda Hair Studio, Depatie said she is hoping for another 50 years in business adding she hopes whoever takes it over from her will continue that ‘family’ legacy.