Pat Helmandollar

Pat Helmandollar didn’t plan to own a salon for three decades in Cornelius. After running successful salons in West Virginia for 15 years, she moved to Lake Norman to be closer to family. A serendipitous opportunity arose when Haircuttery wanted out of a Lake Norman location.

That was October 1995. Savvy Salon & Day Spa became the area’s first full-service day spa, offering hair, nails, massage, skincare, and more.

Pat’s success came from personal connections. She built her business through Welcome Wagon house calls, community involvement, and word-of-mouth—long before social media existed.

Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? “Don’t go into it to make money, go into it as a passion. The money will come.” She also stresses having strong family support, noting her husband handles bookkeeping and her daughter helps run operations.

Savvy celebrates 30 years on October 11th with week-long specials, prizes, and half-price services on the 11th.

Savvy Salon & Day Spa
20430 W Catawba Ave SUITE 2
Cornelius, NC 28031

Jeff Hamm is the creator and producer of The Best of LKN. He’s a licensed real estate broker and accomplished digital marketing professional.

Since 2020, Jeff has been sharing the stories of Lake Norman’s most inspiring small businesses and nonprofits.

When he isn’t working, you can usually find Jeff boating, playing pickleball, cycling local greenways, and taking walks with his dogs Sam and Maisy.

Jeff Hamm
Broker: LKNreal
Founder: Epic Journey Media

Photo credit: LKN Images by Kathleen Martin