Basement salon to move above ground with new name

Housed in a basement amid a multitude of shops and restaurants on Indiana Avenue is John Edward Salon. However, in a few weeks, the salon is moving to a building on the corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Washington Street as well as changing its name.

Co-owner Donna Disque and her recently wed daughter Margarete Nowak opened sister salons, John Edward Salon and Les Champs Elysees Day Spa and Salon on College Avenue to provide AVEDA product hair care to Bloomington residents craving a modern and upscale experience.

“We opened Les Champs Elysees six years ago in October,” she said. “John Edward has been open for four years now, but it’s been kind of tucked away, being in the basement.”

When the prospect of a new location fell into their laps, she and her daughter grabbed the opportunity. The existing John Edward Salon site will be closed.

“The new location will give us so much visibility and help us grow our clientele,” Disque said. “Because the first place visitors go in Bloomington is Kirkwood.”

The name Mardon Salon, an AVEDA Concept Salon, is the product of the combination of Disque and Nowak’s first names.

“Margarete and I kind of thought it up one day and said, ‘Wow that sounds so chic!’” Disque said.

Chelsea Langley, manager of the new Mardon Salon, along with seven other Les Champs Elysees employees and four John Edward Salon employees, will comprise the 12-person staff at Mardon Salon.

Disque believes that many people in Bloomington really enjoy the hustle and bustle of a busy salon, but there are those wanting to relax and have quiet time to unwind in an intimate setting. This multidimensional quality is what makes their salons different, she said.

“Our new salon will be modern and edgy without being over the top,” she said. “Now people are experimenting with fashion, but we will be able to give them trendy without it looking tacky.”

Among other things the salon will also add fusion extensions to its list of services, which cannot be found at any other salon in Bloomington, Disque said.

Housing four spa treatment rooms along with its main hair salon, Mardon Salon will maintain the standards of excellence that its related salons uphold.

Disque said she is excited for Mardon Salon to take the next step by opening the week of Oct. 11 at 124 Kirkwood Ave.

“People in Bloomington really expect a higher quality of service, especially if they are here from a big city,” Langley said. “We want people to know that just because we are in a small town that we still are Aveda-trained specialists, and we can guarantee the same high standards found in any big city like New York or Indianapolis.”