Land Park Salon, somewhat of a landmark in Sacramento's beauty world, has switched locations to make way for a new grocery store tenant.

The building near South Land Park Drive and Sutterville Road has always been anchored by a grocery store since its construction in the early 1950s – from Cardinal and Lucky Stores to Compton's Market and Wilco. But the 21,000-square-foot, ground-floor space has been empty since a Prime Market left about two and a half years ago.

No lease had been signed as of late last week. But officials from the Sunflower Farmers Market chain based in Colorado and Arizona toured the property at 4400 Del Rio Road about a month ago, salon owner Kathy Straw said.

"They really want it," she said. "They have an opportunity to get a nice store in there, which we need in Land Park."

Real estate broker Jon Schultz of CB Richard Ellis couldn't comment on whether Sunflower or other potential tenants might be interested in the property.

Land Park Salon operated in a mezzanine over the store for 23 years. Although the salon's name changed a couple times over the years, its roots there go back to the building's beginning.

The building needs a serious renovation, and Sunflower will have to add at least one loading dock that can accommodate large trucks in back. The Yees, who own the shopping center, plan to remodel most of it, said Straw, who has known the couple nearly 40 years.

Sunflower Farmers Market, which plans to open a store in Roseville in late April, would not comment. The company's chairman and CEO, Michael C. Gilliland, resigned in early February after he was arrested during an Arizona child prostitution investigation.

The salon was located on a mezzanine floor divided into three small commercial suites. Two beauty parlors and a barber shop had operated there since the building opened. The barber operated his shop until he was 96, dying a few years ago at age 100.

Straw was just 18 when she got her first job there, working as a stylist in 1956. It was called Hair Dressers then.

Another salon later operated there for 10 years. Straw returned after friend Pat McDaniel opened Land Park Salon in the old space in 1988. Straw took over the business last year.

The Yees were "heartbroken" to ask Straw to close up shop on the mezzanine floor so the building can be renovated and the new tenant can use the mezzanine as an office, Straw said.

They offered to lease her space at other properties they own. Straw said she was more than happy to move the salon about two miles away to a ground-floor space at 5878 South Land Park Drive. Clients in their 80s – who have been going to the salon since the 1950s – were having trouble getting up and down the stairs.

"I love my new spot," she said. "It worked out great for us."  

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Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @SuzanneHurt.