Elkton honors longtime salon owner on her last day of business

ELKTON, Va. (WHSV) – On Friday, people in Elkton celebrated a longtime business owner and community member. For 38 years Debbie Maiden has run ‘The Hair Gallery’ in downtown Elkton, and Friday was her last day in business as she prepares to retire.

On her last day, longtime friends and customers came out to wish her luck, and the town recognized her for her work in the community.

“It leaves me speechless which is rare for me because I do like to talk a lot. I just love this town and the people in it. It’s just a fantastic place to be and this is just so heartfelt that so many people have shown up today,” said Maiden, the owner of The Hair Gallery.

During the celebration of Maiden’s retirement, the Town of Elkton presented her with an award recognizing her 38 years of business in the town and all that she has done for the community in that time.

“She’s very much a part of the fabric and the family of Elkton. This is a small community with a large heart and she very much is a driving force and part of the heartbeat that keeps us going through her charitable work,” said Elkton Town Council Member Jan Hensley. “We will miss having The Hair Gallery here, we will miss the fabulous windows that she does all year long but we will always have Debbie here working on behalf of the citizens and the people of Elkton.”

In addition to cutting and styling hair for years, Debbie has been a part of several community organizations. She has also led or been part of many large fundraising efforts and charitable projects to help people in need.

“It’s the tight-knit community that we live in. We live in a very neat area, everybody pulls together. If there is a need there is always someone willing to reach out and help that person so that’s what it’s all about, community,” said Maiden.

Maiden said that there are always people in need and the Elkton community is always willing to lend a hand.

“I had a little boy that had a brain tumor and his mother worked very hard. She never asked but they had to travel and I knew she needed gas money and had to stay in a hotel so I did a benefit for that. A local business owner had cancer and it was costly to drive to Charlottesville everyday and the need was there so I pulled together. I didn’t do these things on my own, I reached out to other people in the community and everybody steps up. It takes a community effort,” she said.

Maiden first started at The Hair Gallery in 1987 and took over for previous owner Shelly Cave who she thanked for the opportunity. She said that a lot has changed since she first started, on her first day in 1987 she gave just one haircut for four dollars but overtime her business began to thrive.

“I really got tickled because I had a special client that wanted to be my last client and I got $100 for that haircut. So that was kind of funny to go from $4 to $100 which just shows how good and giving people are in this community,” said Maiden. “They go ‘How have you been in business this long?’ It’s dedication, it’s commitment, it’s always being there for your clients for the public and being community involved. It works, working works.”

The Hair Gallery has been a staple in Elkton for decades and it will be missed in the town.

“Debbie’s been here my entire life so I’ve never known this location to be anything but the hair gallery and have Debbie here. So it’ll definitely be a void that we miss but we’re looking forward to seeing what Debbie does in her next chapter,” said Elkton Mayor Josh Gooden.

Maiden said that she was honored to be recognized by the town. She said that even though she is retiring she will still be very active in the community.

“I love my job and it’s really sad to leave but my husband and I both have decided it’s time. We’ll still be involved in the community I just will not be working and being paid to work I’ll just be volunteering and that will give me more time to the things that I truly enjoy doing,” said Maiden.

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