‘It’s just time’

After 36 years, JC’s Headquarters is closing

Posted 12/19/23

MENDOTA – When Christy (Motter) Liesse graduated from LaMoille High School in 1981, she went straight to beauty school because she loved doing hair and the interaction she would have with people.

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‘It’s just time’

After 36 years, JC’s Headquarters is closing

Posted

By BRANDON LaCHANCE

Staff writer

MENDOTA – When Christy (Motter) Liesse graduated from LaMoille High School in 1981, she went straight to beauty school because she loved doing hair and the interaction she would have with people.

She became a professional hair stylist 41 years ago and became co-owner of JC’s Headquarters with Jeanne Rapp in 1987 (36 years ago).

After more than four decades in the industry and more than 30 years as a business owner, Liesse is making the tough decision to close JC’s Headquarters on Dec. 23.

“I’m going through some health issues. It’s nothing major but it’ll just take time. Right now, I have a herniated disc,” Liesse said. “I have pain in my shoulder, and it goes down to my arm and my hands. I really can’t function very well. Plus, I can’t stand for very long. I knew I couldn’t stand here and continue to cut hair because I need to sit down.

“The economy has changed. Prices have gone up, which has hurt us. It’s hard to keep raising the prices for your services, but you have to if the prices of things you need for the services goes up. Minimum wage has gone up. The price of utilities has risen. The price of our products is higher. It’s gotten to the point where you have to look at the numbers, profits and losses, and scrunch numbers.

“With my health and the economy, it’s just time.”

Jeanne (the J in JC’s) retired in 2017, leaving Christy (the C) as a self-proprietor for the last six years.

Whether a co-owner, a solo owner, or a hair stylist, JC’s Headquarters has been a huge part of her life.

“It’s never been just a business or a job. I truly enjoyed doing hair and creating relationships with my staff and clients,” Liesse said. “I really feel like this was more my calling than just a job. I feel it’s something God wanted me to do. I think that’s why I’ve hung in there and been in business for as long as I have. Through the salon we’ve done a lot through people’s joys, sorrows, weddings, deaths, pregnancies, good times, and bad times. We’ve been a family here.”

The family environment has been shared by numerous employees throughout the 36 years.

But also, the clients.

“No. 1, I think our customer service is a reason we have been in business for so long. No. 2, just offering everything that we offer,” Liesse said. “Also, we’ve been there for our clients, going the extra mile for them when they need it. They become our friends. They trust with us with their hair as well as talking to us about their lives and families. A lot of times, we know their families without ever meeting them until we see them, unfortunately, at the funeral home. We feel like we know all about them because we’ve heard about them for so many years.

“You feel good when you leave a salon. It’s a place you can go where you may not feel so good when you go in, but you’ll feel good when you walk out. It lifts you up.”

JC’s Headquarters stopped selling gift cards a few months ago, but currently has special closing sales.

From Dec. 19-23, all products are 40 percent off except for Biofreeze remaining at 20 percent off and no special on toffee.

There is also an everything must go sale on furniture, displays, decorations, dryer chairs, manicure tables, pedicure table, styling chairs, and Belvedere backwash units from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 19-23 or by appointment.

Each product, chair, and client have a story to share.

“A funny ongoing story is with a gal who I still do her hair and I used to do her kids’ hair when they were young,” Liesse said. “They’re older now and they have kids and careers. The one son went on to be an editor in film and lives in Los Angeles. He would still come back every once in a while, and I’d cut his hair. When the original crew was still here, he told us that he was going to write a movie about us. He’d say, ‘I’m going to come back and film you for a movie.’ He loved coming in and talking to us.

“I have people who still come back after many years. I have people who will come for a haircut and tell me they used to sweep hair for me 20, 30, 40 years ago. We’ve always been here, so they’ll come into town, stop by, and say hello.”

Although the Mendota staple of JC’s Headquarters will be gone, Liesse’s love for cutting hair and making people smile will not.

After her current health issues are taken care of, she may return to a chair at some point somewhere. At the moment, she can’t, but if there is a time where she can, she will.

Until then, she takes pride in all the customers who walked in the doors of JC’s Headquarters.

“We have had a customer base from old to young. I have some clients who are in their late 90s,” Liesse said. “We’ve done first haircuts to haircuts at the funeral home. It’s always a privilege to go to the funeral home and do someone’s hair. I feel like it’s the one last thing I can do for them, make them look good.”