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The Beauty of Teamwork
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| Owners of Lupe’s Beauty Salon, Isabel Alegria (seated in middle) and Teresa Alegria (standing far right) with their team. Photo by DSA |
Isabel and Teresa Alegria are sisters and co-owners of the newly relocated Lupe’s Beauty Salon, 131 E. Washington Street (also known as the Franco Building). As you enter the salon, a beautiful rock waterfall gives a soothing sound with greenery to create a garden atmosphere. The new salon has a large waiting area with a color television and a retail area with fun beauty gift baskets for purchase.
Three private shampoo areas and six hair styling stations offers clients perms, color, wash & set, curl and hair cuts. “We are so excited about our new location and the exposure we now have” said the Alegria sisters.
The Alegria sisters have quite a success story. Born and raised in Mexico, their father came to the United States for many years as a “bracero,” a migrant farm worker in many different cities, until he settled in Stockton. Teresa was a computer programmer in Mexico and Isabel was still in high school at that time. In 1984, the family followed him to Stockton. The first person who received them was Juan M. Prieto, a contractor their father was employed by for many years. He not only opened his home to the family but opened doors for the Alegria family, and they are very grateful to him.
“Life changed when we came to the United States,” states Teresa. “Work was difficult to find because of the language barrier.”
Teresa went to work in a local restaurant and attended school to learn the English language. Isabel, still in high school, enjoyed giving family and friends haircuts and styling. Isabel and Teresa discovered Lupe’s Beauty Salon, one of the most popular salons in downtown Stockton, at 7 North California Street, and became clients of Lupe Villa for many years. Isabel’s love of hairstyling led her to Cosmetology School. Teresa was her transportation to school until her interest grew and she began attending Cosmetology School with Isabel.
Teresa knew in her heart that she wanted to work for Lupe at the salon when she graduated. As luck would have it, Lupe already had her sites set on Teresa and Isabel to become her new employees. The sisters worked for Lupe for 6 years until her retirement in 1996, when she sold the business to the Alegria sisters. Because of their gratitude for the opportunities Lupe Villa gave them, the sisters have never changed the name of the salon.
The City of Stockton purchased 7 North California Street for redevelopment and the sisters credit the help of Joe Mulligan from the City of Stockton, who walked them through the relocation process. They feel blessed to have Kristi Rhea as their leasing agent at the Franco Building, owned by the Housing Authority, and also credit the Downtown Stockton Alliance for their assistance and good work in downtown.
The Alegria sisters and their employees consider themselves a team with the focus on pleasing their clients through quality work and “taking care” of people. Their success is driven by word of mouth, a good reputation and loyal clients. You can experience Lupe’s Beauty Salon by calling (209) 462-2287.
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