Leona Altman has been doing hair for over 60 years in the Clearing and Garfield Ridge areas Chicago’s Southwest Side. On Saturday, Aug. 29, she finished her last appointment at Rollers Cutting Crew Hair Salon, 5840 W. 63rd St.
She’s not retiring entirely. Altman will continue working at Wonder Time in Homer Glen, where she has been for the past 15 years and currently lives. But the Saturday ritual at Rollers—a 20-year anchor in her career—is over.
“I was at Rollers Cutting Crew every Saturday for the last 20 years,” Altman said. “It’s very nice there. I’ll miss getting up on Saturday morning, but over the years, my customers have been dwindling down so I decided to stop.”
Altman grew up in Garfield Ridge, moved to Clearing after she married, and spent decades building a clientele that felt like family. Before Rollers, she worked at Hair Is It on 63rd Street, and before that at Noreen’s Hairport, which has since closed. She also did hair in her basement.
“I don’t even see my family every week, but I saw my customers,” she said, chuckling.
The salon was more than a workplace. Altman’s favorite memories are of the celebrations in the back room: cake, coffee, pizza, the weekly gathering that felt like a party.
“It’s like we had a party every week,” she said.
Maria, the owner of Rollers, threw Altman a farewell party last Saturday. “She’s a remarkable woman and easy to work for. She just worked around everyone,” Altman said.
At nearly 80 Altman is taking stock. Some of her longtime customers from the neighborhood may follow her to Wonder Time. Whether she keeps cutting hair depends on how she feels.
“I’ll be 80, we’ll see how I feel to keep on going,” she said.