Hair Extensions 30% Off Thru 3/31
Hair Extensions 30% Off Thru 3/31
Gordon Salons marks a significant milestone in the bustling heart of Chicago’s beauty landscape —its 26th anniversary. This celebration isn’t just about the passage of time but a testament to a legacy of excellence, creativity, and devotion to the art of hairstyling that spans over five generations. Let’s take a closer look at the incredible legacy of the Gordon family.
The Gordon family’s passion for hairdressing began with Tony Gordon’s great-grandmother, a talented wig maker for the Chicago Lyric Opera. Her dedication to her craft laid the foundation for future generations. Tony’s grandmother, Rose Gordon, was a principal of the American Beauty Academy in Chicago, founded Elizabeth Gordon Hair Designs in Hyde Park, and was renowned as one of the top colorists of her time.
JERRY GORDON’S
REVOLUTIONARY INFLUENCE
Tony’s father, Jerry Gordon, was a legendary figure in the Chicagoland hair industry. In 1954 Jerry Gordon gained his cosmetology license. That same year, Rose, Nate & Jerry Gordon opened the first salon in the Gordon family, in Chicago’s Stony Island neighborhood. Jerry was just 18. In 1956, Rose Gordon opened ‘Elizabeth Gordon Hair Designs’ in Hyde Park, named after her first granddaughter Elizabeth Gordon (Now Author & Owner of Liz’s Antique Hardware). Rose Gordon Also became a Teacher for hairstyling & cosmetology in 1965, eventually becoming the Principal of the American Beauty Academy. She was a renowned colorist in her time & reportedly led the charge for local goverments & barbery labor unions to allow cosmetology as a certified job field, creating a field of work for hundreds of thousands of cosmetologists since.
Dominating the scene from the 1960s through the 1990s, Jerry Gordon trained, competed & became close personal friends with Horst Rechelbacher, the founder of Aveda. He owned one of the first Aveda Salons in the United States and the first Aveda Lifestyle salon in Illinois, J. Gordon Designs in Lincoln Park. Jerry’s innovative concepts such as ‘double booking’ (the salon standard of today) revolutionized salon practices, and he was recognized as the NAHA 1990 Hair Salon Owner of the Year. In 2017, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award and is the namesake of the prestigious Cosmetologist Chicago’s Jerry Gordon Business Leadership Award.
Jerry Gordon’s legacy lives on through his wife, Karen Gordon, a Master Cosmetologist, Trichologist, and past president of Cosmetologist Chicago.
Tony Gordon, a fourth-generation hairstylist, has carried the torch with pride. Tony & his wife Pam have since opened 8 Chicagoland Gordon Salon locations, 2 being upgraded into their newer locations. Tony’s impressive credentials include serving as a Cosmetology Chicago Board Member & Treasurer, a former Aveda Purefessional, and an Intercoiffure Member for over 20 years. His published work includes NYFW, Vogue & Allure magazine and he collaborated with renowned fashion houses such as Armani & Versace. Tony’s passion lies in nurturing and developing hairstylists into haircutting and coloring masters while providing fulfilling careers.
Recap:
Tony’s father, Jerry Gordon, was a legendary figure in the Chicagoland hair industry. In 1954 Jerry Gordon gained his cosmetology license. That same year, Rose, Nate & Jerry Gordon opened the first salon in the Gordon family, in Chicago’s Stony Island neighborhood. Jerry was just 18. In 1956, Rose Gordon opened ‘Elizabeth Gordon Hair Designs’ in Hyde Park, named after her first granddaughter Elizabeth Gordon (Now Author & Owner of Liz’s Antique Hardware). Rose Gordon Also became a Teacher for hairstyling & cosmetology in 1965, eventually becoming the Principal of the American Beauty Academy. She was a renowned colorist in her time & reportedly led the charge for local goverments & barbery labor unions to allow cosmetology as a certified job field, creating a field of work for hundreds of thousands of cosmetologists since.
KATHRINE GORDON’S CINEMATIC SUCCESS
Tony’s sister, Kathrine Gordon, has made her mark in the film and television industry as a BAFTA-winning and Academy Award-nominated hairdresser. With over 30 years of experience, Katherine has created iconic hairstyles for films like Austin Powers, Wayne’s World, Wayne’s World 2, Transformers, Moneyball, American Hustle, So You Married an Axe Murderer, 3:10 to Yuma, Foxcatcher & Terminator Salvation.
PAMELA GORDON’S DEDICATION
Pamela Gordon has been a multi-generational hairstylist, working alongside Tony at Gordon Salon for over 26 years. As the first Gordon Salon Senior Master Stylist, Pamela continues to provide leadership and guidance to her award-winning team, ensuring they deliver exceptional services to their clients while nurturing the next generation of stylists. She runs our R&D department and has also has won the Salon Today Top 200 Interior Design Award for our Evanston Location, ensuring we minimized the enviromental impact of each space she helps transform.
THE NEXT GENERATION
The Gordon legacy continues with Tony & Pam’s children, Jessica and Michael Gordon. Both are experienced hairstylists with cosmetology degrees, both with business degrees from Colorado State University and DePaul University. They have both worked with the Gordon Salon teams for over 20 years, winning industry accolades such as the Intercoiffure Nouveau Competition and the 2 to 10 Conference’s Next Generation Leadership Awards. Jessica currently serves as the Director of Human Resources, while Michael is the Director of Marketing.
As the Gordon Family Salon celebrates its 26th anniversary, we invite the local community, loyal customers, and beauty industry professionals to join us in commemorating this remarkable achievement. The Gordon family’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and education has left an indelible mark on the industry.
Here’s to 26 years of beauty, passion, and artistry – and many more to come!