Gwinnett Daily Post

Photo by Tori Boone

GRAYSON -- Janice Briscoe celebrated the 45th anniversary of her Grayson business Janice's Beauty Shoppe on Friday.

Briscoe, 68, first opened her store in downtown Grayson on Aug. 13, 1965. It's now one of a handful of small businesses at the end of Grayson Parkway.

"(Grayson) was real little country, like a little western town. It looked like you would see tumbleweeds rolling down the street," Briscoe said. She says much hasn't changed despite more development and growth.

Her shop is small with a couple of chairs, two long mirrors and green walls and carpet. A little more than a dozen family members, friends and Grayson Mayor Jim Hinkle came to the party.

"She's been here longer than I have," Hinkle said, who has served as mayor for more than 20 years. "I have seen so much go on here over the years."

Briscoe attended the Artistic Beauty School in Atlanta before opening her shop with the help of family. The store became a popular spot for local women to socialize. Virginia Morehead of Lawrenceville has come to the store for 10 years.

"It's like you come to visit your friends. I look forward to coming here every week," Morehead said. She praised Briscoe, recalling how Briscoe visited her in a distant hospital when she broke her shoulder.

After Briscoe became sick last year, she lost half her customers. But with the help of her granddaughter Brayley Mitchell and other employees she's devoting more energy to the store.

"She is giddy, loving and outgoing. If she don't know you, you would know her by the end of your (visit)," said Nancy Everett, a store employee.

Although Briscoe only works a couple of days a week, she is still the store's owner. She says she hopes to be around the store for a long time to come.

Briscoe only has one regret.

"If I had to do it over, if I knew I would be running this store for 45 years, I wouldn't have had this small of a bathroom," Briscoe said of the bathroom that is smaller than an airplane lavatory.