Opening in Style: New Salon Comes to BC

By Dan Guarino

“Now that’s a good haircut,” said one man who just finished getting a sharp new trim at the sharp new Unisex Salon in Broad Channel. The new hair and nail spot has been generating quite a buzz since it opened at 9-11 Cross Bay Boulevard.

“We had the grand opening on Saturday, April 1. We had food, drinks. It was a good turn out,” says Angelica, one of the owner/staff/operators at Unisex. Keeping things like family, they insist on first names with all who come through their door. They opened those doors to greet their new neighbors with thick round piled sandwiches, crackers, salads, beer, seltzer, liquor and strawberry topped drinks to celebrate their new venture.

Altogether, Angelica notes, Stella, Jack, Suzanna and herself comprise the Unisex Salon team. They might be new to the Channel and to Rockaway, but they are certainly well experienced in the business of caring for hair and making folks look their best.

“Mom,” she says, calling out to Stella, “How long have you been in this business?” Pausing only briefly, scissors in hand while giving a gentleman a stylish cut, “Thirty years,” Stella replies. As Angelica explains, before opening their own place, “We worked in Howard Beach.” When the opportunity presented itself, she, Jack and Stella made the move to Broad Channel. “We wanted our own shop, because we were working for somebody else,” she said.

The transition is still evident in the sign above the storefront. Below the orange awning emblazoned with the now gone “Lina X Nail Spa Inc.” name, a white banner strip proclaims “Hair Salon- Stella and Jack Are Here.” Stella explains that they are waiting for signage permits to clear to make the public facing change complete.

Inside, all is new, including shelving, counters, reception/appointment station. There are four well-appointed styling stations and salon chairs, so there is little waiting. There is also a comfy manicure and pedicure station and hair washing station towards the back.

“We do men’s haircuts, women’s, too. We do coloring, cuts, manicures, pedicures and eyelashes,” Angelica notes. They also do highlights, single process and eyebrow threading and waxing, among other things.

Do you do “kid’s haircuts?” someone asked online. Yes, was the answer, as someone else added, “My boys have gone to Stella and Jack for years. They are great!”

Angelica notes, “Business has been very good. And reception from the neighborhood has been great!”

“We’re open seven days, and walk-ins are welcome!” she adds. Unisex Salon opens at 8 a.m. every day. Monday to Friday, they are open to 6 p.m., Saturdays to 5 p.m. and Sundays to 3 p.m.

To make an appointment or get more information, Angelica says, people “can call us at 646-244-3081. They can find us on Facebook, social media. And there’s word of mouth,” she says. “We’re getting a lot of people from word of mouth.”

Judging from the lively posts following the announcement of Unisex Salon’s opening, that word of mouth has been very good indeed.

“You said threading!!! Sold!” one woman commented. “My husband will be thrilled! Especially the Sunday hours!” said another. And one man noted, “Now maybe I’ll get my hair cut more frequently!”

Angelica mentions many people from Broad Channel came to see them when they worked in Howard Beach. Now that they have opened up in Broad Channel, they are looking forward to seeing many old friends and many new faces, and their heads of hair, from the Channel and from Rockaway.

Now that they have officially opened their doors, Angelica says, “We’re very excited, very happy!” Judging from the praise from the man noted earlier and his also newly hair trimmed friend, Stella, Jack, Angelica, Suzanna and Unisex Salon are more than ready to greet every customer and send them out in style.

Photos by Dan Guarino.