When Chuck Bauer and Chuck Beckwith opened The Soap Opera on Lake Street in 1972, they opened a store that would become a downtown staple.

Despite three locations, a change in ownership and a pandemic, the business has remained consistent and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week on March 3.

Current owner Stacy Scannell has owned The Soap Opera since 2016 after being a customer of the company herself and having 15 years of sales experience.

“It’s such a big staple in the community that I could come in and have that business experience and really still operate for 50 more years,” Scannell says.

At first, Bauer and Beckwith spent a year on Lake Street and during that time they were roller-skating down State Street with a dresser full of beauty products because they couldn’t sell any on the thoroughfare. The Soap Opera moved to State Street where Parthenon Gyros is currently located, then moved one last time in 1984 to where the Soap Opera exists today.

Scannell says the original owners were inspired by apothecary-style stores in Europe where they would have high-end hairbrushes, perfumes and essential oils. Some of these same products are still available today, but things have also changed over time.

One thing Scannell has prioritized is durability. After years of researching options, in time for the anniversary, she replaced homemade products with eco-friendly packaging. Most Soap Opera branded products now have biodegradable wheat straw jars or bottles, glass jars with bamboo lids, and bamboo caps for perfume roller bottles. They also have a refill service so people can return their bottles and have them refilled at a discounted price.

It also began offering a custom scrub bar, herb bar, and scent parties for customers to make their own products.

For Scannell, some of the most special moments are those with customers. She says she has a million stories of people who arrive on a bad day, but choose The Soap Opera to lift their spirits.

She mentioned the story of a customer who regularly buys perfume from The Soap Opera because her husband has dementia and when she wears the scent it’s one of the times he can remember her name.

“It really warms my heart that we’re still here and still doing this kind of work for people,” Scannell says.

The Soap Opera is hosting a celebration party Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with freebies, cupcakes, discounts on sugar scrubs and more.