Career Beauty College closes doors in Rexburg

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Story Published: Jul 28, 2009 at 4:28 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 28, 2009 at 6:09 PM MDT

By Steven Pope

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For 26 years, the Career Beauty College was the only place in Rexburg to learn how to cut hair.

"In the last 4 years we've had 2 businesses come in, 2 other beauty colleges come in. The competition was excellent," said Grant Gardner, the owner of CBC.

That and a struggling economy meant fewer students were signing up.

"(It) really slowed down all the way around. Retail has gone down tremendously," said Gardner.

The school also lost its federal funding from national accreditation when enrollment numbers were so poor.

"There is a lot of sadness involved, just for the fact that the business has been in my family for 30 years. I watched my dad put a lot of hours in here growing up. Our family came in here and built this building into what it is," explained Gardner.

There is some good news, however, the owner of the Career Beauty College is going to pay the cost difference so that 15 of his students can attend Paul Mitchell.

"We are really excited for this new transition, bringing all these future professionals into our school," said Paul Mitchel Learning Leader Jenna Riding.

A new class was already scheduled to start today, and with the added students it will now be 40 strong.

"We have a huge class," said Riding.

As for the Career Beauty College, 5 of it's students will continue giving haircuts to finish up their hours and Grant Gardner will then decide whether to sell the building or start a new business.

Paul Mitchell will still have to compete against Evan's Hairstyling College, the other Rexburg Beauty School.

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