Pura Vida salon on Campus Court across from the university shut its doors for good at the beginning of April, part of a cost-cutting measure announced by the university last month.
Steven Holley, vice president and chief business officer, said the cost of running the store did not benefit the school enough for it to remain open.
Another business along the strip doesn’t see the salon closing to be a problem. Pour Man’s Coffee will move into the former Bitsy’s flower shop later in the year.
“We don’t think Pura Vida closing will affect us at all because we knew going in it was closing soon,” said Daniel Sotelo, co-owner of Pour Man’s. “Whatever they put there will probably benefit us.”
Camryn Phillips, sophomore marketing major from Great Falls, Montana, said she’ll probably need to find a new styling salon in Abilene now that Pura Vida has closed.
“It was great having a salon close to campus that I thought would be good,” Phillips said.
Pura Vida offered refunds to anyone with unused gift cards until March 31. It’s unclear whether former customers can still receive those refunds.