Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
'It was more than just a business' says family after closing longstanding hair salon at Masonville Mall

'It was more than just a business' says family after closing longstanding hair salon at Masonville Mall

CBC
Friday, January 17, 2025 3:23 PM GMT

Niki Delis says it felt like the grief over a loved one's death when she closed down the hair salon her father started at London's Masonville Place four decades ago as one of its first tenants. 

Delis and her family have ran Hair Effects on the ground floor of the mall since 1985 and over the years, have made countless memories and developed a loyal staff and client base. 

That journey came to an end last week, making them one of the latest mom-and-pop businesses in the north London mall to permanently shutdown due to financial pressures resulting from rent hikes and sales that haven't bounced back since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"It was more than just a business to us. It did extremely well for many years and continued up until COVID," said Delis, who ran the salon with her husband and sister. 

"We were still a viable business but not for the expenses we had. We signed up for our rent before COVID, but five years ago, our business was doing 35 to 40 per cent more than it was now and that makes it very difficult to keep up with expenses."

Recurring closures from lockdowns and pandemic social distancing rules forced Delis to reduce the number of clients who could get help at one time, and after the pandemic the salon lost several employees who wanted to work shortened hours or out of their homes, said Delis.

The family made every effort to retain their salon, including ramping up advertisement, special deals, getting rent relief from their landlord and even trying to move to a smaller storefront in the mall, but none of those were able to save the business, Delis said. The salon's retail side, selling hair care products, also saw a major decline in revenue, she added.

"We didn't want to leave. We all tried very hard and we did see a slight increase in business in recent months and that was a positive thing because prior to that my husband and I would put in our own finances to cover payroll and rent," she said. 

"There wasn't enough walk-in traffic [in the mall] that there was before to bring in a new stylist, so we were left with 15 and that wasn't enough to sustain the rent we signed up for." 

Cadillac Fairview, which owns Masonville, didn't respond to CBC's interview request asking about the mall's vacancy rates and how much rents have increased since the pandemic. 

Increased costs of goods have made it difficult for both family-owned businesses and customers, whose shopping habits have also changed, said Toronto-based retail analyst Bruce Winder.

A greater push toward online shopping has reduced foot traffic in malls, which were historically a one-stop-shop for people to buy what they need, and service businesses in malls such as hair salons have been caught in that crossfire, he said. 

"More people dye their own hair because it can be quite costly to go out to a hair salon and get your hair coloured when you can do it with a bottle for a fraction of the price at home," he said. 

"There's also a lot of people who cut hair underground — you give them $30 and they'll do a good job at home. People will find ways to save a buck."

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Windsor couple joins global march to Gaza border to protest war

A Windsor Ont., couple is preparing to make the journey to the Middle East to join a peaceful global protest to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. 

Alberta conservationists, sheep outfitter call for stiffer poaching penalties after 4 men fined $26K

Four men who illegally killed bighorn sheep in western Alberta were fined $26,000 combined and each received one-year hunting bans — penalties some say are not steep enough. 

'We're keeping a couple bags packed': Weyakwin, Sask., residents start returning after evac order lifted

Lisa Powder and her great grandchildren were among the first Weyakwin residents to return home after fleeing a wildfire that burned dangerously close to the northern Saskatchewan community.

Neskantaga First Nation calls for more federal support after community evacuation cut short

Chief Gary Quisses says Neskantaga First Nation's evacuation lasted 46 days — but he wasn't ready to bring his community members home.

Man dead after house fire in Scarborough: police

A man is dead after a house fire in Scarborough on Friday morning, Toronto police said. 

Grab your popcorn! A microcinema just opened in Cambridge

They call it the big screen, but this movie theatre experience is pretty small.

Charlottetown high school's rock concert puts musical talent and Canadian pride on display

Students at Charlottetown Rural High School are preparing to take the stage at the P.E.I. Brewing Company on Friday for their School of Rock 2025 Showcase. 

Fire at Yellowknife apartment that displaced public housing tenants caused by smoking

Improper disposal of smoking materials was found to be the cause of a fire that displaced tenants of public housing from a Yellowknife apartment building in March. 

Man who considered assisted death after bedsore tells coroner's inquiry 'you have to fight' for care

Among the dozens of people who testified at a coroner's inquiry into the death of Normand Meunier, Claude Labelle may be the only one who really understands what he went through. 

Toronto's getting hotter. Experts say a chief heat officer could help the city adapt

As Toronto braces for another hotter than usual summer, some climate policy experts and advocates say a chief heat officer could help the city adapt to extreme temperatures faster. 

Western University to get 200 of province's new teacher college spaces

The Ontario government's move to add 2,600 teacher college spaces will open 200 new entry slots to Western University's education program over the next two years. 

Toronto man had to fight GoFundMe to get paid after organizer gambled away funds for his brother's funeral

In the aftermath of his younger brother's sudden death last year, Allan Oliver says he was surprised when a family friend set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral.

Bay du Nord FPSO contract will be awarded in months but future undecided, says Equinor

While the future of the stalled Bay du Nord project has yet to be decided, an Equinor Canada representative says there are positive signs for the project's future, including a major contract that the oil giant will award in the next few months.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Air quality in Toronto among worst in the world amid wildfire smoke, global tracker shows

Toronto is currently the second most polluted major city in the world as wildfire smoke spreads across the city, according to a global tracker. 

Advocates say P.E.I. near top in Canada for gender-affirming care, but better aftercare needed

At a time when large provinces such as Ontario and Alberta are not covering key procedures and therapies, advocates say Prince Edward Island has some of the best access to gender-affirming care in Canada. 

Special air quality statement in place as wildfire smoke moves into London region

A special air quality statement is in effect as wildfire smoke moves into the London region, and experts are advising people to remain indoors when possible. 

Liberals introduce bill to cut trade barriers, speed up 'nation-building' infrastructure

The Liberal government introduced legislation Friday that it says will eliminate federal barriers to internal trade and detail how nation-building infrastructure projects will be identified and approved more quickly. 

Speech from OPEC head to kick off Global Energy Show in Calgary

More than 30,000 people from 100 countries are expected to descend on the white-collar heart of Canada's oilpatch next week for the Global Energy Show, which is to kick off with a keynote address from the head of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

First case of dermo disease detected in N.L. oysters

Federal food safety officials say they've confirmed the first case of dermo disease in oysters from Newfoundland and Labrador.

2 former athletes from Garden River First Nation to be inducted in Canada Sports Hall of Fame

Two former athletes from Garden River First Nation in northeastern Ontario will be inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame this year.

'Long overdue' dikeland upgrades coming to rural N.S. community

A rural Nova Scotia community on the Bay of Fundy is preparing for the most significant upgrades in decades to the dikeland system that protects it from flooding.

Deer collision leads to insurance nightmare for N.B. woman

As Samantha Anderson headed home to Sunny Corner after Christmas supper in Miramichi last December, a deer jumped in front of her car on a blind hill.

Montreal air quality deteriorates as Prairie wildfire smoke blankets much of southern Quebec

As wildfires continue to rage in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, travelling plumes of smoke drifted into Quebec on Friday, prompting Environment Canada to issue warnings over air quality.

Southern Manitoba fire chief and firefighter drive pumper truck 15 hours to help in Lynn Lake

Fire departments in southern Manitoba are answering the call to help northern communities save their homes and lands.

Battle of Stoney Creek win over the U.S. in 1813 offers lesson about peace, say re-enactment organizers

Despite the muskets, bayonets and firing cannons, organizers of the annual Battle of Stoney Creek re-enactment — which takes place this weekend in Hamilton — see the event as a celebration of peace. 

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us