ATLANTA — Beauty school students and employees are demanding answers after a local school abruptly closed.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
The Health and Style Institute has been around for 13 years until students and teachers showed up Monday and found the doors locked.
Overwhelmed with emotions, Anesah Shabazz says she’s left trying to figure out what’s next, after the abrupt closure of the Health and Style Institute.
“This has made me so sad,” Shabazz said.
Shabazz told Channel 2′s Ashli Lincoln she was studying to be a master stylist and paid at least $15,000 in tuition.
“I was supposed to finish in five months,” she said.
On Monday stunned students and teachers arrived to lock doors and a sign saying the institute has closed for good. Channel 2 Action News learned it closed all four locations in Atlanta, Kennesaw, and two locations in North Carolina.
“We can’t get our stuff out, we don’t know if our credits will transfer,” Shabazz said.
TRENDING STORIES:
- GA care home employee knocked down 82-year-old patient who later died in the hospital
- 25-year-old Gwinnett man accused of complimenting women then groping them
- GA Power contractors find man dead in ditch more than a week after he was released from jail
The owner posted a news release to its website. It says the closure is directly related to Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) processing complications. Because of this, the institute says it could not pay federal student aid to students.
The owners also blame a lack of response from the Georgia Board of Cosmetology and Barbers about relocating its Kennesaw location. Channel 2 Action News reached out to the state regarding this allegation, it says that’s not true based on their records.
The owner did provide links to other schools available for transfers. For those receiving federal loans and grants, the news release says they would have to review their options regarding transfers, loan forgiveness, or a loan discharge.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
For employees, the owner says they will receive their final paycheck and their 401K will be honored.
“People were here for 10-plus years. They gave them no warning, they gave us students no warning,” Shabazz said.
A date has not been set on when students or teachers will be allowed back inside this building.
Students say they plan to hold a protest on Friday.
©2025 Cox Media Group
