By Adam Hammer, staff writer

HARTLAND &8212; After 10 years of operating her hair salon out of a space the size of a small bedroom, Michelle Romer, owner of Hairstyles by Michelle, is more than quadrupling the size of her shop.

Romer will move from her present location at 516 Broadway St. in Hartland directly across the street to a shared building that is under renovation. The building used to house a hardware store.

&8220;I&8217;m most looking forward to having more space &8212; a lot bigger shop is the main thing,&8221; Romer said. &8220;And having another person working with me.&8221;

The new shop will welcome a lot of changes to Romer&8217;s business including the addition of Hartland local and stylist Megian Bell.

Bell graduated from Riverland Community College in 2003 and until about a month ago worked at Mia and Maxx hair studio in Mankato.

Bell said she is excited about having the opportunity to work in Hartland where she grew up.

The new space will include a room with a tanning bed, an area for manicures, two stylist stations with new chairs and equipment and a reception area.

&8220;I&8217;m just anxious to see it,&8221; Debi Leland, one of Romer&8217;s customers said.

Romer and Bell hope to be moved in to their new location by October or November.

Romer, originally from Clarks Grove, worked for eight years at a salon in Southdale Mall in Edina before opening her own shop in Hartland.

&8220;I wanted to start my own business, I didn&8217;t want to work for another shop,&8221; she said.

With the space available, she took the chance to start her own business.

&8220;I didn&8217;t know anybody in Hartland when I first started,&8221; Romer said. &8220;Now I know everybody.&8221;

Hairstyles by Michelle sees clients from Hartland, New Richland, Albert Lea, Hollandale and other towns surrounding Hartland. Romer said a few of her old clients from the Edina shop still make the trip to have her style their hair.

Although Romer was unable to give a tally of regular clients, she has enough to keep her busy and with all the new additions, will likely have enough to keep her new staff busy.

&8220;We&8217;re all excited about the new shop,&8221; Cathy Solberg, a client, said.