MacDaddy has been cutting it in Forest Park for 20 years

Back when The Rachel’s star was fading and skunk stripes and side-swept bangs were a think, MacDaddy Salon opened its doors on Madison.

Today, they’re more focused on extensions and dimensional color, but the two decades the Madison Street hair salon has been in service is a testament to its Forest Park staying power.

“We’ve seen a change, and it’s all been good,” said stylist Tracy Nero, who has worked for MacDaddy since it opened in 2004.

On Saturday, the salon owned by Stephanie Neubauer celebrated its 20th anniversary with a party for the public. The staff served cocktails and canapes to those who stopped by to wish them well.

Nero, whose husband is commissioner Ryan Nero, explained MacDaddy started as a two-store operation. Co-owned by Neubauer and Nelson Ameer, MacDaddy opened in the West Loop and Forest Park. For a variety of reasons, the Chicago storefront closed, and Neubauer transferred to the little Forest Park shop. 

At the time, “there were a lot of bars on Madison, but they said it as up-and-coming,” Nero said.

“There were also little boutiques and upscale restaurants, and stuff started popping up, so they decided to make their move,” she said.

Today, it employs seven stylists.

“We are alive and well,” Nero said. 

The salon serves men, women and children, and offers color and cuts for ethnic and other hair. 

Nero said she, too, has been in Forest Park for more than 20 years.

She loves it, she said, because she can walk to restaurants, shops and even her job.

“It’s the best of both worlds — urban and yet we have a yard and some parking. And it’s a small-town kind of community with events and quirky little things, like the Casket Races,” she said.

It’s a place that can’t be beat.

MacDaddy is located at 7506 Madison St. For more information, go to https://www.macdaddysalon.com/.