Business Profile
Written by Craig Whitney Photos by Shannon Lynn Photography
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alon Bella has been a part of Marple for decades, consistently improving upon a reputation of quality service and dedication. Families who have been salon customers for years have become close friends with their stylists, and there is a level of communication that only comes from a true personal connection. Mary Rosato has run Salon Bella for many years, and this is something she takes pride in. “I was the type of person who knew what I wanted to do from a very young age,” Mary explained. Mary grew up in Havertown. Her family was known for cutting hair. Her grandfather, George, owned a barber shop in town, and his two brothers also had shops in the area. Mary distinctly remembers the years she spent as a child sweeping the hair after every cut and watching with pride as her grandfather worked. She and her siblings had their hair cut by their grandfather, and Mary watched with an intense focus as he trimmed her bangs or cut her hair to a very specific length. She still remembers the day when her grandfather was about to cut her brother’s hair and instead turned to Mary and offered her the scissors. She was only 14 that day, but her life was set on a new path from that point on. “It was my passion my whole life,” Mary glowed. “I loved to style hair and to make people feel good about themselves.”
Mary Rosato cutting hair
After graduating and getting licensed, Mary started working at salons in Philly. After several years of that fast pace and surrounding distractions, she knew she needed to find a town where she could settle down. When she found Marple, it felt like the perfect community for her: A place full of supportive and enthusiastic people. Families came into the salon together and shared stories and laughs while they had their hair styled. Soon after joining the team, Mary felt like a true member of the Marple community. Salon Bella became her second home. Mary worked as a stylist for many years, getting to know all the other employees and forming close relationships with the clients. When she had her two children, Victoria and Julia, she started working one day a week. After her children were older, Mary returned to a full-time schedule. Being back at Salon Bella was refreshing and rejuvenating. And with her return, came a stronger drive and a larger ambition. In 2008, Mary approached the owner, Joanne Booth, to express her interest in owning the company. “I wanted to do more. I didn’t want to be just behind the chair all the time,” Mary explained. “I wanted to manage the company, market it, and see it grow.” Mary became salon owner, and after several years, the company began to grow and change. Now, there are 17 chairs and a team of stylists with many specialties and personalities. Mary takes great pride in how different all of her stylists are, and she makes it a priority to make each stylist feel fulfilled. “I stress being professional but also personal in our work,” Mary explained. “It’s very important to me that our clients feel comfortable and that the salon is a clean, state-of-the-art environment. That all starts with making sure the stylists feel comfortable and that their needs are taken care of.”
The Salon Bella products shelf 12 Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together
There are currently 19 stylists, and Mary works hard to nurture a close relationship with all of them. Having spent many years as a full-time stylist herself, Mary knows the demands of the job and how she would like to be treated by management.
