NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Belle Ame Lashes by Keke recently celebrated its grand opening at 14 Eagle St.

 

Owner and esthetician Kathryn Boucher said her business will do face wax, eyebrows, and eyelash extensions.

 

Boucher formerly occupied a space in Pittsfield but now will solely be based in North Adams. It's also something of a coming home as 14 Eagle used to house her grandfather's business — Norm's Barber Shop.

 

After school, she'd walk down from Conte Middle School to the barbershop to get a lollipop — a tradition she plans to continue to commemorate him. 

 

"This is just where we would come visit. And he had this old brown desk right over there, and the bottom drawer was all always Dum-Dums lollipops. So that's what he was famous for, giving the kids the Dum-Dum lollipops," she said.

 

Boucher explained that her grandfather, T. Norman "Norm" Bleau, is one of the inspirations behind her business along with her daughter.

 

"My daughter was actually the one who introduced me to getting eyelashes done," she said. "She always got hers done when she did not need to, and talked me into getting mine done. And then after a while, it seemed like something I should look into, I would enjoy doing."

 

Boucher named her salon in part after her late daughter, Kiera "Keke" Boucher, with Keke a nickname she and her daughter shared. Boucher's signage includes the slogan "Lashes like Kiera," noting her daughter had great natural lashes. Kiera died earlier this year at age 26, but helped her mom pick out the colors and flooring of the space as well as giving input on  the furniture and decorations. 

 

Boucher received her cosmetology license through Mildred Elley around 2016. She trained under and was certified by Victoria Brassard in Pittsfield, who owns Lemon Lash Academy and FaceFrame Collective. Boucher had her Belle Ame Lashes by Keke in the Pittsfield studio.

 

Another barber shop, Klipper Kingz Barber Co., had operated out of the space since 2009.

 

She got the Eagle Street space in February and said her father and her three sons helped her transform into what it is now.

 

Boucher opened on May 7, when she was licensed to be there, and celebrated with a grand opening on May 31. She wants to collaborate with other local businesses to draw people downtown so offered the chance to win gift cards to them during the celebration.

 

Belle Ame Lashes by Keke is by appointment only for lash work, but may be available for walk-ins for face waxing. For more information to to make an appointment at 413-344-7777 or through the website.