Aireys Inlet business closes doors after nearly two decades

AN AIREYS Inlet business has closed its doors after almost 19 years at the town’s Great Ocean Road shopping strip.

Family-owned store Kiss Me Too, which combined both a salon and retail space, announced its closure in late June with hairdresser Mark Iversen and his wife and co-owner Sara Scally officially starting their retirement.

“It’s been a long haul, but we’ve loved every second of it,” Ms Scally said.

“It’s bittersweet but we’re at the stage where we really need to retire. Mark has done over 18 years in the shop hairdressing and 50 years hairdressing altogether.

“Our locals and our regulars have always been fabulous, we’ve met an array of people, including the niece of the president of Chile, judges, tradespeople, editors, CEOs and all sorts of people.”

The pair opened the business in 2005, needing a place to expand from its previous salon location in Lorne.

Mr Iversen said that when looking for a location to open Kiss Me Too, the vacant space located at 1/79 Great Ocean Road was the only available space on offer for the business to complete its relocation from Anglesea to Lorne.

Family-owned Kiss Me Too, a salon and retail space, closed in late June as owners Mark Iversen and Sara Scally retired.

This made the decision to open the store in Aireys Inlet an easy one.

The couple moved in, grinded it out during its first six months, and never moved again.

Both owners said the thing they would miss the most was the people, for creating cherished memories and remaining loyal and committed customers to the business.

“It’s been fundamental to the business to have a strong connection to the community, we’ve met some amazing people down there and without exception, we could count on one hand the number of negative experiences we’ve had over the years,” Mr Iversen said.

“We just couldn’t thank the community enough, it’s been an absolute blast.

“From here, though, Anglesea will be our base which is where we live, and we’re looking forward to some fun down the track and a chance to smell the eucalyptus.”

For a farewell statement from the couple, head to the July 3 post on Kiss Me Too’s Facebook page.