Bill Paganis’ family business is style — all of his children work in the beauty field.

And now, Paganis is putting Basili, his Riverside hair salon, into his family’s hands.

On Nov. 4, Paganis handed ownership of the salon to his son, Frank, a veteran hairdresser from Oak Park. The name of the salon will soon change to Pagani’s.

“I’ve owned my own salon for 40 years,” Bill Paganis said. “I wanted an opportunity to do what I love without the stress of running the business, and my son, Frank, is giving me the opportunity to do that.”

Bill Paganis told his clients not to worry — he is not retiring. He’ll still be in the salon, styling hair 50 hours a week.

Bill Paganis came to America when he was 6 years old from Greece, and returned to Greece at 14, where he attended beauty school.

“I started working on Rush Street, and at 22, bought my own salon,” he said. “I bought this place 30 years ago and made it my salon — it was an empty dry goods store.”

Frank Paganis is excited about the new job opportunity.

“I’m 37, and I’m doing what I was put on this earth to do,” he said.

Frank Paganis has owned the original Pagani’s, in Oak Park, for six years, which will remain open.

Unlike the Oak Park location, which has a no-child policy, the Riverside salon will style children’s hair on Mondays.

“Everyone says that Riverside is this little Mayberry town, and I disagree. I wanted to bring an urban vibe to Riverside,”  Frank Paganis said.

Notable
In 2008, the mayor of Riverside proclaimed May 5 as Bill Paganis and Basili’s Salon Day in recognition of the shop’s 30th anniversary.

& quotable
“I like to work with an individual, not create one haircut to fit everybody,” said Frank Paganis.

Grand opening
The salon in Riverside is open now, and will be having a grand opening party at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Pagani’s, 5 Longcommon Road, Riverside. For more information, call (708) 447-5004.

Favorites
MOVIE “The Ten Commandments”
BOOK “Hitting it on the Head” by James Bettines
FOOD “Anything my wife cooks”
HOBBIES Golf
VACATION DESTINATION Greece