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Hyde Park: Hair and nail capital of America

By adamg on Sun, 07/01/2012 - 9:21pm

More specifically, the Logan Square area down Fairmount. Mike Ball surveys the grooming scene, marvels at all the different salons and barber shops for all kinds of hair in the two-block district:

Perhaps symbolic of the vitality of this genre was that Qadosh (oriented toward black women) just took over TC's Coffee. It had been next to one of those odd little churches. TC's space is airy, has big windows and benefits from the rehab the restaurant owners had performed on what used to be the preeminent hotel on the Neponset River before it decayed. After a month with not even a hand-written sign of the salon name, Qadosh has painted its door and taken the old TC's Coffee sign out of its frame, surely in preparation for its own lighted one.

Neighborhoods: 
Hyde Park
Topics: 
Business
Free tagging: 
Logan Square


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Comments

By anon on Mon, 07/02/2012 - 1:46pm.

As a resident of this neighborhood I am shocked at the number of hair/nail establishments within this small area. It's obsurd that one would be allowed to get a permit for such a business type considering the congestion in the area.

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By SwirlyGrrl on Mon, 07/02/2012 - 1:57pm.

As long as the business meets the zoning requirements, it can be there. A nail salon cannot be denied a licence because somebody decides there are too many nail salons - just like a tattoo parlor cannot be specifically zoned out of a specific area.

Let the market decide - if there isn't the traffic needed for these, competion will weed out the least popular.

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By adamg on Mon, 07/02/2012 - 2:05pm.

Guy wanted to open a liquor store right on Hairmount Avenue.

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By SwirlyGrrl on Mon, 07/02/2012 - 2:31pm.

But, as has been noted before, liquor stores are regulated differently.

I know that when a tattoo parlor wanted to locate in Medford Square, even the least dim of the city councelors had trouble wrapping their minds around the fact that they could not just selectively zone it out because they didn't like it, and not face a damaging and expensive lawsuit in doing so.

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By Ian Lamont on Mon, 07/02/2012 - 2:41pm.

In Newton, the local economic commission put forth proposal to put a moratorium on new bank branches opening in the city:

“Demographics make them come, and the ability to pay high rents (as well as lenient parking requirements make them desirable tenants. Unfortunately, too many banks have a negative impact on our village centers. They tend to drive out other users, decreasing the variety and the ability of other types of stores and services. As destination locations, they generate little synergy or spin-off and nothing to enliven the village centers at night.”

Newton Center has 14 branches already.

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By Andrew on Mon, 07/02/2012 - 8:59pm.

Having a high concentration of hair and nail salons does not create a vibrant district. Hyde Park has had lackluster retail options for decades. As far back as 1970 the city was brainstorming how to improve Cleary and Logan Squares:

http://archive.org/stream/clearysquarestud00bost#p...

I see that TC's tried, as well as the Irish Restaurant. Sorry to see them fail. I was skeptical from the beginning, it's a tough location.

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By anon on Tue, 07/03/2012 - 5:44pm.

The Hyde is a really good restaraunt.

Master Mgrath's is a decent Dive Bar

Demphsey's is an authentic irish bar...although very small.

TownsEnd's didn't fail...rumor has it the owner ran off with a 23 year old waitress.....

There is a new "fusion" restaraunt" opening up closer to Hyde Park Avenue and hopefully some more decent options will follow!

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