My name is Amy Johnson, owner of Legacy Hair Company. I was born and raised in Marion, Ohio, on Lincoln Avenue. I attended Harding High School, Baker Middle School, and Vernon Elementary. After high school, I went to beauty school because I knew I wanted to follow in my mom and sister’s footsteps. Watching my mom, Sue Brammer, build Today’s Trend Salon and seeing my sister, Lisa (Thompson) Moser, grow into her career inspired me deeply. My dad, Perry Brammer, stood beside my mom as she built her business, supporting her vision every step of the way.
Not long after beauty school, I married my soulmate, Eric Johnson, who has been my steady support through every season of life.
In 1991, I began working at my mom’s salon, and that same season began my journey into motherhood. Eric and I welcomed our two boys — starting in 1997 and then again in 2003. Our oldest, Quinton, is now 29, and our youngest, Ethan, is 23. Over the years, our family has grown even more. We gained a daughter-in-law, Hanna, and have two grandsons, Tru and Bodhi. Family has always been at the center of everything I do — both at home and in the salon.
Hair has always been part of my life. In 1976, my mom opened her first Today’s Trend Salon at 295 East Center St. — the same day she took me to my first day of kindergarten. That address marks the beginning of our family’s legacy in the beauty industry. In 1978, she purchased a house and transformed it into her new Today’s Trend Salon at 708 E. Center St., and the salon stayed open for over 45 years. Together, my mom and dad renovated the space and grew the business. In 1984, my sister joined the salon after graduating from beauty school. Then in 1991, I officially joined them.
For nearly 30 years, I worked alongside my mom at Today’s Trend Salon. I’ve now been in this industry for almost 35 years, serving guests and working as a National Educator and Ohio Educator for Nexxus and ESBI International/Design Team, along with FLH Distributor brands like Sudzz and Milkshake.
In 2020, everything shifted. My mom injured her shoulder, and after two years and two surgeries, she made the difficult decision to stop working. With the added challenges of COVID, our family — my mom, my dad, my sister, Eric and I — decided it was time to sell Today’s Trend Salon. This came with many emotions and some tears.
After the sale, I worked at Hair Designers with Betty Terrazas and her husband, Randy Terrazas. Betty was a respected salon owner, friend, and mentor to me. Later, they sold the salon due to Randy’s retirement so they could spend more time together. I am grateful not only for their mentorship, but also for the friendships I built during that season.
I then spent three years at Style 124 in Downtown Marion after Luke Henry invited me to join that salon. It was a supportive environment, but I still felt uncertain about what was next. I remember praying, “God, is this it for me? Or is there something more? Is this the last stop on this train? Or should I just quit working altogether and close this chapter of my life? Or should I be THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD and just keep on going?”
One day, I received a call from Courtney Danner, who is Luke’s property manager. She explained that they had purchased a building downtown and were updating it. She asked if I would consider opening my own salon there.
When she told me the address — 295 East Center St. — I was speechless. It was my mom’s original Today’s Trend Salon location. It felt full circle.
With Eric by my side, I made the decision to move forward and open my very own first salon. It took me a long time to come up with the name, but I think it speaks for itself — LEGACY HAIR COMPANY.
Today, Legacy Hair Company stands in the very place where my mom first opened her doors in 1976— 295 East Center St. What began as her dream has now become mine.
Downtown Marion has always been part of my story. From childhood memories of my grandpa taking me to the Murphy’s store for a soda and snack at the food bar while we waited for my grandma to get off work at Fulfillment Corporation in Downtown Marion, to the Marion Palace Theatre, where my sister used to be in many plays, and the Popcorn Festival, where we used to meet up with all of our friends and had a fun and memorable weekend together (Ohh the stories we could tell), it’s a place filled with history and community.
Start your day off with an energizing drink from Sip Easy Coffee Bar. When it comes to dining, Baires offers a welcoming atmosphere created by owner Marcela Barrios. Bucci’s, owned by Alex Sheridan, brings a vibrant energy to downtown. The Brickyard has also become a special part of our community. It serves as a beautiful event venue where people gather to celebrate weddings, milestones, and important moments.
The local shops, including Maddie’s on Main, LuLu’s Toy Co., YummY Treats Candy & More, Elena Renee, Spruce and Sparrow, Foxglove Hollow Home Decor, and many more, make downtown a place I’m proud to be part of. Events like Third Thursdays, and of course, the infamous Popcorn Festival and parade, along with the sense of connection, add to what makes Downtown Marion so special.
My philosophy at Legacy Hair Company is simple: under promise and over deliver.
And now, through Legacy Hair Company, I continue that legacy — right where it all began at 295 East Center St.
I don’t have to add much after Amy’s story. THIS is why I do what I do…helping hardworking people make dreams come true through business ownership, expansion, or reimagination. As the saying goes, “If you know your WHY, you can withstand any HOW”. I have shared a few times about some of the recurring the challenges that our team bumps into daily and weekly…disjointed government processes, funding challenges, skyrocketing construction costs, old building issues, and a never-ending barrage of negative comments and criticism from armchair and keyboard warriors. But in spite of them, we continue to move forward to a vision of Marion that we believe is coming to pass little by little every day – beautiful, collaborative, prosperous, inclusive, redemptive.
Like our past, which includes many high points and some low ones too, we know that the future won’t be all sunshine all the time, but I believe it is bright and worth working for. We are honored to be aligned with many courageous dreamers, doers, and entrepreneurs like Amy, who are making Marion better every day.
Better Together,
Luke Henry Col 3:23
