CARIBOU, Maine – Downtown travelers in Caribou have seen the former Mascoto’s Italian Restaurant vacant since the eatery closed in 2021 after struggling during the COVID pandemic.
But thanks to Heidi Plourde, many locals will have a reason to stop in again.
Plourde, who lives in Perham, recently purchased the Mascoto’s building at 6 Center St., and is turning the space into Salon 6, a hair styling and tanning business that she hopes to open by Valentine’s Day.
Though she has been a licensed hair stylist for 24 years, Plourde worked as a truck driver for the past nine years. While looking for a career change, Plourde felt inspired to return to hair styling after eyeing the Mascoto’s building.
“I kept driving by and saw that it was for sale. I looked at it and it’s just so pretty. The layout is perfect for having hair styling on one end and tanning on the other,” Plourde said. “Plus, you can’t drive through downtown without seeing it.”
Plourde’s business will be located just across the street from S.W. Collins, on a small street that connects with the Sweden Street downtown area. She hopes to hire at least three or four hair stylists and a nail technician.
Plourde is currently renovating the space to include a spacious room for hair styling chairs and an adjacent tanning area.
Salon 6 will join several other hair styling shops in downtown Caribou, including From Hair to Eternity on Main Street, Magic Scizzors and Alphie’s Barbershop on High Street, Shear Precision and Vogue Beauty Salon, both on Bennett Drive.
Plourde is already seeing a large demand for the services she plans to offer. With a limited number of salons in town, stylists can only take on so many clients. Plourde said she will not limit her clientele for now.
“I’ve talked with stylists who have had to turn people away, so there’s definitely interest,” Plourde said.
City Manager and interim code enforcement officer Penny Thompson recently approved the site design review for Plourde’s building, which does not require planning board approval.
Thompson announced Plourde’s business venture to the Caribou Planning Board at their Thursday meeting.
“We’re excited to have Heidi open up shop downtown. It’s a great spot if people want to walk and shop there. We can see all the downtown activity feeding off each other,” Thompson said.
