By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new beauty salon and cosmetics boutique will fill the downtown storefront that formerly housed Arch Apothecary, a similar business that abruptly closed its doors this past summer.
The new salon is owned by Racheal and Greg McElroy and their son, Parker McElroy. They said family members had been coming to stylist Sidnee Benhoff at Arch for years before its sudden closure, and they saw an opportunity to revive the space with a new look and vision as Parella Beauty Co., 214 E. State St. inside The Standard.
Benhoff, who lost her job without notice when Arch closed, will now manage the new business.
“She had a vision,” Greg McElroy said. “She had good ideas for different things that she liked, different things that she would want to change: So we kind of collectively re-imagined the space.”
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An opening date is not yet set, but Benhoff said she hopes they can open before the end of the year. People got their first look at what’s to come Saturday during an open house at Stroll on State.
Benhoff said she started working from home after Arch closed in June as she waited to determine her next move. The McElroys later approached her with this business opportunity.
“It was a huge surprise for me when Arch closed. I immediately started working from home because that’s what I had,” Benhoff said. “I didn’t know 100% how I was going to feel being back in this space, but once I envisioned it as my own it just felt right.”
Parella will continue to work cooperatively with The Standard, a rooftop wedding and events venue, for bridal parties and other affairs. Benhoff also aims to utilize more of the space and add more services. You’ll be able to get cuts, colors, styles, makeup and cosmetic services, facials and facial waxing, among other services.
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Arch Apothecary closed all its locations — in Rockford, Chicago, Madison and Milwaukee — on June 5, notifying customers and employees on the same day. The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy about a month later with liabilities of about $545,000, court records show. The bankruptcy case was closed in mid-November.
Follow | Parella Beauty Co.
On social: @parellabeautyco on Instagram
Location: 214 E. State St., Rockford
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas