Azana Salon & Spa set to reopen on Saturday, December 1st
BROOKFIELD -- The Azana Salon & Spa is set to open on Saturday, December 1st. This, after a tragic shooting that left three dead and four injured on October 21st. On Tuesday, November 27th, owner Tami Gemmell sat down with FOX6 News to talk about the salon's re-opening.
On October 21st, a Sunday morning of haircuts and manicures turned into horror after Radcliffe Haughton entered the salon and opened fire, killing his estranged wife Zina Daniel and two others, and leaving four injured, before turning the gun on himself.
Gemmell says she has had a very difficult six weeks after the business she helped build for 13 years became the scene of a mass shooting, and several employees she had considered friends are now gone. However, Gemmell says some positivity has come out of the tragedy.
"This community has rallied around us so much. The salon community, the business community in general, people in general, clients," Gemmell said.
Gemmell has continued to pay her employees, even though they have not been able to work for a month-and-a-half. She said it has been a struggle, but said she feels it was the right thing to do.
"These girls need to be able to heal, and focus on being well enough to get back to work when they`re ready. (They) don`t need to worry about how they`re going to pay their mortgage or their rent or buy their kids Christmas gifts," Gemmell said.
Zina Daniel called 911 from the salon on October 4th, after her estranged husband, Radcliffe Haughton slashed her tires. Gemmell said she did not know about this incident until about a week later. Gemmell, like many others who knew Zina, said she never saw this coming.
"I employ 65 women. We've had a lot of employees throughout the years go through divorces and have things happen that don't escalate to anything like this. No one ever thinks it's going to escalate something such as this," Gemmell said.
Gemmell said she is now focused on helping her staff heal. The salon has been remodeled to include tributes to the three ladies who were killed in the shooting.
"Some more subtle than others, but there will be some nice surprises for employees," Gemmell said.
The media will get an inside look at the salon on Friday, November 30th. The salon will open for business on Saturday, December 1st.
CLICK HERE for additional coverage of the Azana Salon & Spa shooting via FOX6Now.com.