However, she started working three jobs seven months ago to pay rent for the salon as well as her house. Benoit said attracting clients in a neighborhood with 17 haircutting businesses has been an uphill battle. This week she will place a ?For Sale? sign on the business and plans to move out of Massachusetts.

"My first year was great, but with all the businesses closing in the area, there?s not enough foot traffic any more," she said. "I?m working another job to pay the bills at the salon. I just can?t do it."

Benoit, who is originally from Concord, New Hampshire, lives in Newton with her two children who attend Newton North High School.

"It was my dream. I?m really kind of bummed out," Benoit said about closing the salon. "For myself, not being from the area, it was hard being the new kid on the block."

Benoit said after her daughter graduates from high school this year, the family plans to move back to New Hampshire.

Benoit plans to keep the salon open until a buyer purchases the facility. If no buyer shows interest in the studio, Benoit said she would close doors this summer.

"It?s a leased building so any buyer would be renting it," Benoit said. "What they would be buying is the business and they would be buying all the products and chairs."

Along with a competitive marketplace, Benoit also dealt with an attempted arson last month when someone poured gasoline through the mail slot and threw in a pack of matches. Luckily, the matches did not ignite and the studio survived.

While business is not what Benoit hoped it would be, she said her experience with West Roxbury residents has been wonderful.

"I just want to say everybody has been so nice," Benoit said. "I?m really going to miss being a part of West Roxbury. Hopefully the next person that comes in there can have a clientele. The neighbors are wonderful. Everyone has just been so nice."

Kelly Tynan, Executive Director of West Roxbury Main Streets, said her organization would help Benoit sell the property if needed.

"We?d be happy to help put anything on our website if they decide they are looking to lease it," Tynan said.

Tynan said one possible future for the space is as a retail store.

"West Roxbury Main Street?s preference is to gain more retail space in the area. Would we prefer more retail to a salon? Absolutely. Are we sad to see this go? Absolutely. But if there?s a focus to change a salon to retail, that?s something we?d be happy to see," Tynan said.

For more information call Lenore?s Hair Studio at 617-325-1975.