Council to Vote to Authorize Sale of Future Aveda Salon Property

Wheaton City Council will vote Tuesday night to approve a real estate contract for the city-owned property at 109 Main Street for the negotiated price of $200,000, according to a city memo.

Buyers Roy and Karen Millonzi of Glen Ellyn plan to rehabilitate the downtown Wheaton property to open an Aveda salon.

Wheaton City Council amended a zoning ordinance in November to allow the proposed salon to open, in the city's C-2 zoning disrict in downtown Wheaton. A 1998 zoning code prohibited new hair stylists as a permitted use in the C-2 district, which lies east of Wheaton Avenue between Wesley and Front streets and ends west of Cross Street, with a pocket near Hale Street that crosses the train tracks and Liberty Drive (see map). Council's decision overrode the Planning and Zoning Board's recommendation to deny the request to amend the zoning code.

At an Oct. 11 Planning and Zoning Board meeting Aveda representative Sharon Nykaza told the board the Aveda salon would generate 45 to 65 percent of its revenue from the sale of Aveda products, following a "retail model first and service model second" business plan.

"We plan to use strong brand equity to draw customers to our salons... We have the most loyal customers," Nykaza said.

The Millonzis have owned Namasté salon in downtown Glen Ellyn for the past five years. Roy Millonzi told Patch in November if all goes smoothly with their property purchase, he expects the salon to open within four to six months. According to the city memo, closing should occur on or before March 12.

Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 at City Hall, 303 Wesley St., Wheaton.