Gordon Salons marks a significant milestone in the bustling heart of Chicago’s beauty landscape —its 25th 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 was licensed. After that, in 1954 Rose, Nate & Jerry Gordon opened the first salon for the Gordon family in Stony Island when Jerry was 18. 1956 was when Elizabeth Gordon Hair Designs was opened in Hyde Park. Rose Gordon became a Teacher for hair in 1965 as Head of the American Beauty Academy school. Dominating the scene from the 1960s through the 1990s, Jerry trained and competed 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 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’s impressive credentials include serving as a Cosmetology Chicago Board Member, a former Aveda Purefessional, and an Intercoiffure Member for over two decades. His work has graced NYFW and Allure magazine and he collaborated with renowned fashion houses such as Versace. Tony’s passion lies in nurturing and developing hairstylists into haircutting and coloring masters.
Tony’s father, Jerry Gordon, was a legendary figure in the Chicagoland hair industry. In 1954 Jerry Gordon was licensed. After that, in 1954 Rose, Nate & Jerry Gordon opened the first salon for the Gordon family in Stony Island when Jerry was 18.1956 was when Elizabeth Gordon Hair Designs was opened in Hyde Park. Rose Gordon became a Teacher for hair in 1965 as Head of the American Beauty Academy school. Dominating the scene from the 1960s through the 1990s, Jerry trained and competed 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 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.
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 Wayne’s World, So You Married an Axe Murderer, Wayne’s World 2, Austin Powers, 3:10 to Yuma, Transformers, Foxcatcher, Moneyball, Terminator Salvation & American Hustle.
PAMELA GORDON’S DEDICATION
Pamela Gordon has been a multi-generational hairstylist, working alongside Tony at Gordon Salon for over 24 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.
THE NEXT GENERATION
The Gordon legacy is poised to continue with Tony’s children, Jessica, and Michael Gordon. Both are passionate hairstylists with cosmetology degrees and business graduates from Colorado State University and DePaul University. They have worked with the Gordon Salon teams for over 30 years collectively, 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 25th 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 25 years of beauty, passion, and artistry – and many more to come!