Dan’s State of the Art Beauty to close at year end

Adam Lidgett

After 38 years under the ownership of Paul Litner, Dan’s State of the Art Beauty salon will be closing its doors for the last time on Dec. 31.

Litner’s daughter in-law Rachel said Litner had many fond memories of the store, but felt it was time to retire and close the store at 86 Middle Neck Road.

“Of all the wonderful moments I’ve had over the years, what means the most to me is the people,” Rachel quoted her father-in law as saying.“Watching my customers grow from teenagers to adults and then seeing their own children grow up has been something I truly treasure.”

Rachel said there will be a sale from Dec. 23 through Dec. 31 to dispose of the store inventory. During that time, she said, merchandise will be 50 percent off.

Litner said through Rachel that he expects all the inventory to be gone by the end of the year.

Litner will continue to live in Great Neck, Rachel said, and is looking forward to spending more time traveling with his wife, Judy, who operates Travel Express International in Great Neck.

Rachel said Paul, 83, is also looking forward to spend time with his five children and seven grandchildren.

“Now is the perfect time to retire and to travel,” Paul said according to Rachel. “I’ve always loved to travel, both in the states and overseas – whether it’s exploring a new region of Italy or visiting my grandchildren, who live all over the country.”

Paul bought the business in 1976, when it was a wholesale beauty supply store, Rachel said. He eventually transformed it into a retail boutique for specialty beauty products, she said. The business has been in Great Neck since 1952, Rachel said.

“I saw the opportunity to expand the business with a specialty boutique approach,” Paul said ccording to Rachel. “We offered a full array of merchandise that included basics as well as exclusive brands in cosmetics, fashion hair accessories and other distinctive products that were not previously available to customers in Great Neck.”

Before buying Dan’s, Paul worked for 20 years in the consumer product business on the manufacturing side, Rachel said. He was executive vice president of a housewares company that made oven broilers, rotisserie ovens and other cooking appliances.

Rachel said meeting his customers while traveling abroad was one of Paul’s more memorable experiences.

“I was in Hong Kong many years ago in front of the Peninsula Hotel, when a customer recognized me and ran over to say hello,” Paul said according to Rachel. “The same thing happened on another overseas trip when I was in Italy.”

Paul also credits Dan’s manager Silvia Zeller with the success of his business,  and its reputation for attention and service.

“Silvia has been with more for more than 20 years, and has forged very deep relationships with our customers throughout the years. I am so fortunate to have worked with her,” Paul said according to Rachel.

Paul is a former member of the Great Neck Business Improvement District and in 2011, and he was given the Robert E. Freedman Retailer Award from the Great Neck Chamber of Commerce, Rachel said. He was given the award for bringing a “New York” caliber of shopping to Great Neck, Rachel said.

She said Paul wanted to take the brands shoppers often found in Manhattan and the experience that comes with shopping for them to people’s backyards in Great Neck.

“I love seeing customers enjoy the store as well as the whole shopping experience – especially when that enjoyment is carried over from one generation to the next,” Paul said according to Rachel.

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