Marta Lohner Celebrates 40 Years on Raritan Avenue

Hair Styles Come and Go, but Marta Lohner’s Commitment to Community is Constant

HIGHLAND PARK, N.J. – Dec. 20, 2007 – Marta Lohner has seen a lot change in her four decades as a hairdresser on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park, but nothing has changed more than the hairstyles.

“The hairdos you see today, they would have kicked me out of beauty school if I produced anything like that,” Lohner said, with a laugh.

Lohner, owner of Marta’s Salon, 323 Raritan Avenue, has the distinction as the longest-serving business owner in Highland Park’s downtown. She is celebrating her 45-year anniversary as a salon owner and more than four decades as a Highland Park business owner. Over the years, she has become an asset to the community, as much for her friendly personality and commitment to her customers as for her scissor snipping skills.

“I was always passionate about serving the client. I never looked at someone walking through the door as a dollar bill,” Lohner said. “If I can do something to help people, to brighten their day, that’s all I want from my life.”

At 26, Lohner opened Hair Fashions by Marta in New Brunswick in 1963 and moved her business to Highland Park in 1965. She had wanted to be a hairdresser since she was 16, so she was ready to pour her heart and soul into the business, even though the young mother was busy with her two children. Her business grew and she changed its name to Marta’s Salon in the 1980s.

Lohner expanded and updated the scope of her business several times over the past 45 years. She offered manicures, waxing, facials and massages, but none of them proved as popular or as profitable as her hair styling.

Lohner developed a strong base of loyal customers who grew and aged along with the business. As more and more senior citizens frequented her salon, Lohner began throwing in complimentary head massages with her hair cuts to help her clients relax. She’s also famous for the Christmas parties she throws in the salon. Customers can enjoy coffee and Lohner’s home-baked goodies in her salon throughout the holiday season.

Lohner secured many accolades over the years, including prizes in New York City hair design shows and a stint as the official hair dresser of the 1982 Miss New Jersey pageant in Atlantic City. Some of her greatest accomplishments, however, have nothing to do with hair.

“As a Hungarian immigrant, Marta is a wonderful lady who has helped many young Hungarian émigrés adapt to life in the United States,” said Brian Taxman, chairman of the Main Street Highland Park board of directors. “Many of these young people started out as kitchen helpers, pizza deliverers and in various other labor-intensive jobs. Most of them have furthered their education, learned English, earned degrees from Rutgers University and are currently enjoying successful professional careers in our country. Much of their success can be directly attributed to Marta.”

Lohner came to America with her boyfriend Steven, who later became her husband, when she was 16, to escape from the looming Cold War revolution in Hungary. After learning English and building the foundation for her own pursuit of the American dream, Lohner used her experience to help other Hungarian émigrés.

In spite of her vast business experience, Lohner still doesn’t like certain aspects of her job, such as keeping the books and being rushed by customers who are in a hurry. She has learned to compromise over the years and has adjusted her perfectionist aspirations with the times.

“I had to learn to do hair not as perfectly as I wanted,” Lohner jokes.

When she’s not at the salon, Lohner enjoys baking, tending her garden, sewing, knitting, crocheting, reading, attending the theater and taking trips to New York City. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, Eva, son Steven, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Lohner embraces her role as a member of the Highland Park community. One of her favorite memories is from when she invited the students from Yellow Brick Road Nursery School, 15 South Third Ave, to come to her salon on her day off.

Yellow Brick Road owner Grace Puleo and her staff walked a gaggle of three and four-year-olds to the salon and one-by-one they sat on the salon chair while Lohner styled their hair.

“When a little three-year-old child looks in the mirror and says to me ‘you made me look like a princess,’ there’s not a better feeling in the world,” Lohner said.

Other Announcements