Reta Wallace remembers her hometown of McKeesport as a flourishing city. What once was the second largest city in Allegheny County, the downtown area of Fifth Avenue housed a variety of businesses. Most are no longer there.
Department, retail, jewelry and shoe stores as well as appliance and variety stores were a part of the mix. A branch of the now defunct National Record Mart and G.C. Murphy’s were there as well as H. L. Greens. However, the two business staples in McKeesport since the 1940’s that still operate are Progressive Music and Natale Sporting Goods. Next in line for longevity is Magic Palace Beauty Salon.
A people person, Reta Wallace the owner of Magic Palace has always experienced enjoyment in making people beautiful and feeling good about themselves. Claiming a customer base of more than 300 throughout the years, she says some have been with her since she opened her doors in 1991. Customers come from all over the Mon Valley including Pittsburgh, Jeanette, Charleroi and Monessen.
Staying afloat in a staggering economy and in a city in decline since her existence has not been easy. Wallace attributes her success and survival to providing good service, consistency and her clients being like family. “I love them and they love me. I treat them like queens and kings.” Often serving like a mentor, Wallace said “We confide in each other. They share things with me because they know Magic Palace operates in a professional manner, but at the sometime I pamper and lift their spirits.”
Other than her work ethic, Wallace indicates that she has been in business for 23 years because of her skills and expertise. While in high school she was a student in the cosmetology department and after graduation attended the Dravosburg Beauty Academy. While attending the Pittsburgh Beauty Academy she received her teacher’s degree, the highest level degree that the school offered. She provides her customers a full array of hairstyling and beauty services as well as services affiliated with selling and styling wigs and hairpieces.
Recently hosting a hair and fashion show, something she has been doing off and on for the past 23 years enabled her to display her hair weaving talent. She utilized models from around Pittsburgh and the Mon Valley reflecting the areas of her clients. The Love and Peace Hair Show Spectacular also featured styles from Melisa’s Creations in Monessen and P’s Barber Shop in the Hill District. The fashion show component was presented by Linda Whiters of Wachama Callits in North Versailles and Fashion Beyond in Wilkinsburg.
The event also provided vendor opportunities for Marquitta Williams of TRACILYNN Jewelry, DeEtta Riley of Riley’s Dream Freedom, Ayesha and Joel Scott the mother and son team of Sweet Creations and Dewyne Wainwright of Marks Fantastic Photos. Entertainment was provided by vocalist Pamela Brown, the Attitude in Motion Dancers from Bell Vernon and dancer and entertainer Chico.
“This has been a unique and interesting show,” described Williams, referring to the creative work of Wallace’s hair weave clothing line. With weaves consisting of a main part of her business, she said she has been experimenting with the development of the clothing line for several years after seeing a hair show in Detroit allude to the idea.
“The outfits I saw there were very vague and boring to me,” Wallace explained. “The idea was good, but the colors were basic and the outfits were skimpy. When you looked at the outfits they did not look like hair.”
Wallace debuted her line during her last year’s show using red, black and orange weave as a test market. Not explaining the concept so people knew the models were wearing hair she said the idea did not go over well. This year she added more designs and colors and described each models outfit, which carried a theme.
Excited about the possibilities, Wallace said she plans to expand her hair weave design line by adding accessories like earrings, hats and handbags and taking the show on the road including an entertainment component.
Located at 604 Locust Street, Wallace views her 23 years of business as a great experience. Once operating Magic Palace salons in Clairton and Duquesne for three years and one in the Crestas Terrace section of North Versailles, she says she has fulfilled her dreams. Now her goal is to continue being a successful businesswoman by maintaining her reputation of doing quality work.
Throughout the years she has served as a role model for her community, particularly for her son Majeck who the shop is named after and her daughter Jynuine who works with her and has aspirations to open her own shop. Her talents along with Sharmaine Jamison’s were displayed in the show.
Concerned about the chaos and violence going on around the world and in the Mon Valley, Wallace named the show Love and Peace. “We need more of it around the world. Everybody should start focusing more on love and peace and not war,” she said.
