Business owner Aaron Johnson has always been a community-minded guy, and when he moved to Williamsport in the late 1980’s, he set about not only filling a void in the community, but also providing them a taste of home while he was at it.

“I had a lot of different odd jobs. I did heavy highway construction for 15 years, and helped build the Market Street,” Johnson, who was born and raised in Philadelphia, said.

With the increased ease of travel, Johnson realized that the African American community living right in his adopted hometown lacked easily accessible hair products.

“We didn’t have anybody selling African American hair products up here, and that was something that the community needed at that point in time,” he said.

He would subsequently open Z&L Hair, 19 Sixth Street. Williamsport. Initially envisioned as a side hustle, Johnson said it quickly grew in popularity.

Though Johnson jokingly pointed out that he, himself, is bald, he said, growing up with seven sisters, he had plenty of knowledge on the subject. What he did not know, he reached out to those with experience to help build his business.

Z&L Hair offers a variety of products geared towards the African American community, including oils, hair extensions, braids, wigs and more.

Many of the products Johnson carries are not readily available in other local stores, he said, though he has a good relationship with other retailers, such as Sally’s Beauty, with the two regularly referring customers to each other.

And while specifically geared towards African Americans, Johnson stressed that his shop is for everyone.

“I have a lot of Caucasian people come in too. They’ll buy extensions and things, and some are looking for a lot of exotic colors to braid into their hair,” he said, adding that a lot of his products and colors are of interest to little girls.

“Up here, we have a lot of mixed kids, so it’s hard to get the right stuff to match up with their hair, and my products do a very good job for that,” he added.

At the same time as his hair business was beginning to boom, Johnson launched a second venture, Ziggy & Aaron’s Water Ice.

“Growing up in Philadelphia, water ice and Philadelphia pretzels was the best thing that you can have on a nice, hot day,” Johnson said.

At the time he relocated, Johnson said there was only one business offering the treat, but they quickly stopped offering it.

Following a long, hot day of construction, Johnson decided to whip up some water ice for himself.

After going through the hard knocks of getting it just right, his concoction quickly took off after local children got a taste, after which he acquired a van and a freezer to begin bringing his treat to the masses.

Ziggy & Aaron’s Water Ice would get a major boost when John Fritz, of Sunset Ice Cream would gift him a dipping table, for which Johnson would pay him back as his customer base grew.

Today, Johnson carries a number of flavors, including ones he created himself, even incorporating his children and grandchildren into the fold.

Though both of his businesses were shaped by his own hands, he is nonetheless grateful for those who helped him along the way, including Fritz, a former Susquehanna Bank President affectionately known as “Mr. Lou” and Jerry Kimball, of Kimball Realty.

“They really believed in me and helped me to reach some of my goals,” he said.

Not one to be selfish with his good fortunes, Johnson goes out of his way to give back to the community he loves.

“If someone with cancer comes into my hair shop, I give them their first wig for free, no matter what,” he said.

“One of the reasons I do it is because I saw what my mom and dad went through fighting cancer, so I can imagine what they’re going through,” Johnson explained, adding that his sister also battled the disease, now being two years in remission.

Johnson has also been known to give water ice to children in need of a cool down or just a tasty treat, often visiting local daycares and parks during the blazing summertime heat.

He also hosts a book bag giveaway just before the start of school each year, which he refers to as “their last hurrah,” complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, water ice, bounce houses and more.

“This is their day. Everything is free for them, and a lot of them look forward to it,” he said.

Though he stressed that he’s not rich by any means, Johnson said that he believes in God, and that God will take care of him as long as he does what’s right.

And though not originally from the area, Johnson said he owes his success to the Williamsport community.

“Growing up, I always wanted to have my own business, and I might have gone through all the mud and the downs that I had, but this town gave me the opportunity to do the things that I always wanted to do,” he said.

“This little town, Williamsport, saved my life, period. Williamsport was my second chance at life,” Johnson said.