Owner one part of what makes salon special

A tight-knit family of coworkers, Irene Steiner, owner of J&B Hair Associates, goes the extra mile for both employees and customers.

By: Elaine Worden
   MONROE — Irene Steiner may be the best boss in town.
   Owner of J&B Hair Associates in Apple Plaza on Applegarth Road, Ms. Steiner of North Brunswick is truly loved by her employees.
   "Irene is really an exceptional boss," said Rochelle Grossman of Monroe, a longtime employee of J&B.
   "It’s like a J&B family," said Ms. Steiner of her employees and customers. "It’s nice."
   A hairstylist since 1960, Ms. Steiner became an apprentice when she was 14 while living in Europe.
   "I always wanted to be a hairdresser, even when I was knee high," said Ms. Steiner.
   Born in East Germany, Ms. Steiner and her family were forced to leave their home during during World War II to West Germany in 1945 when Ms. Steiner was only 4 years old. Her family later moved to the United States when she was 14.
   "Everything I did in my life, I worked for," Ms. Steiner said. "Nothing was ever just handed to me."
   Ms. Steiner began working at J&B 20 years ago as a stylist. Ms. Steiner, along with Diane Jablonsky of Helmetta and Ms. Grossman, are the few remaining original employees who began working at J&B when it first opened under the management of previous owner Bob Harris. Ms. Jablonsky started the day the shop opened, and Ms. Grossman arrived when the shop was a year old.
   Ironically, Ms. Jablonsky and Ms. Steiner had been talking about opening their own salon when the opportunity to take over J&B fell into Ms. Steiner’s lap.
   "The door opened and I took it," said Ms. Steiner.
   With a roster of 20 employees, including the stylists, four assistants, two receptionists and one manicurist, J&B is almost like an extended family.
   Ms. Steiner’s husband, Pete, is even a part-time receptionist at the salon.
   "The customers love him," she said.
   Mr. Steiner, an easy-going man who is a Mr. Fix-it around the shop, helps the stylists repair their broken curling irons or hairdryers, said Ms. Steiner.
   "He’s very helpful," said Ms. Grossman. "Without him I couldn’t do it," said Ms. Steiner.
   One reason the employees get along so well is Ms. Steiner’s ability to juggle the role of manager, while still maintaining an understanding of what it’s like to be an employee and the needs that come along with that position.
   "I know what the employees feel like and I know the other end, which is very important, and I won’t forget that," said Ms. Steiner.
   After rearranging and restoring the salon, Ms. Steiner has given J&B a relaxed, homey ambience. Draped in warm colors and bright lighting, the salon is cheery and inviting. Decorated for the holidays, a mini Christmas tree was displayed behind their coffee maker and a menorah sat in the front windowsill.
   "We’re trying to make steady improvements," said Ms. Steiner.
   Known to shower her employees with unused vacation timeshares or bring in homemade soup, Ms. Steiner enjoys giving not only to her employees, but her customers as well.
   "Every so often, Irene cooks for us and brings in lunch for us," said Ms. Grossman.
   Ms. Steiner even jumpstarted a knitting trend throughout the salon.
   "Before I was a shop owner, I made baby hats for the hospital," said Ms. Steiner.
   What started as a hobby to keep her hands busy at night when she couldn’t sleep, soon turned into a J&B craze.
   "I have two left hands and I’m on my second poncho," said Ms. Grossman.
   After making sure her entire staff keeps warm in the winter by giving them each their very own scarf, Ms. Steiner is making an array of scarves and other things to be raffled off to her customers.
   "I make fuzzy scarves for customers for fun drawings," said Ms. Steiner of her now frequent raffles.
   Ms. Steiner and the staff at J&B are very appreciative of their clientele’s loyalty throughout the past 20 years.
   "You interact with the customers, you know their lives, they know your life," said Ms. Grossman.
   "Without the customers, we’re nothing," said Ms. Steiner.
   But Ms. Steiner’s generosity isn’t the only reason her employees enjoy working with her.
   "She gets thing done yesterday," said Ms. Jablonsky.
   "Irene is very fair. She’ll do without to make us happy," said Ms. Grossman. "It’s hard work. You have to love people," said Ms. Steiner.
   Describing this endeavor as the biggest challenge of her life, all of Ms. Steiner’s hard work has paid off.
   "I love my customers and I love my staff," she said.
J&B Hair Associates is located at 355 Applegarth Road in Apple Plaza in Monroe. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and have late hours available for Thursdays. For more info call (609) 655-9741.