Marjie's Hairport
3317 EASTERN BLVD
BALTIMORE, MD 21220
New Address 4/5/2011
12536 Eastern Ave
Baltimore, MD 21220
410-391-3999
Marjies
Hairport, located at 3317 Eastern Blvd. next to By The Docks restaurant
and just down the street from Bengies Drive-In, has been owner Marjie
Ravenscrofts paradise for nearly 30 years, but it wont be for much
longer. The lease on the property that Marjies and the Chase Smokehouse
sit on ends in April and By The Docks, who owns the property, plans
to demolish the buildings and pave the area for additional restaurant
parking. Marjie has been in the hair business for 35 years, but she
says it was her friend Victoria Smith who got her started. She was
my inspiration, since I watched her do it all the time, she said.
She was sure to give credit to another friend as well, Cheryl Poletynski,
who she says has been her rock and support throughout the years, and
even helped her get the loan to start her business. Marjie established
her Hairport in 1983 and quickly developed a loyal customer base catering
to men, women and children, including some from previous places where
she worked. Most of my customers have been coming to me for 35 years,
Marjie said. She said the name Hairport came from its proximity to
Martin State Airport and that she cut hair for a lot of people from
the Air National Guard base. She likes to keep her hair studio upbeat
and up-to-date, she said. She works with her daughter, Ronica, and
granddaughter, Brittany, which helps to keep a fun and happy atmosphere.
Were really nice to everyone, Marjie said. We treat them like family.
She equated her shop to Truvys Beauty Parlor in the 1989 film, Steel
Magnolias. Marjie and her business have always maintained a good standing
in the community and she has made numerous donations to Girl Scout
troops and different school functions throughout the years. She even
appeared in the Heritage Registry of Whos Who for 2008-09. Marjie
has known about the leases end for some time but had been hoping she
could work out a deal so she would not have to move. I dont really
want to move, were comfortable here, she said. But By The Docks has
had parking issues in their small lot for a long time and has decided
not to allow renewal of the lease. April 1 will be the last day Marjies
Hairport will be open for business in its current location. It will
reopen in its new location on April 5 at 12536 Eastern Ave. next to
the Merle Norman studio in Chase. Marjie will always have fond memories
of her old shop, and shell think of the song Paved Paradise by Counting
Crows: they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
