HILLCREST, Calif. (KGTV) - As different industries and businesses are given the green light to begin the reopening phase after coronavirus restrictions, one industry says they’re being left in the dark. Brian Nguyen is the owner of two Hillcrest nail salons in San Diego and said they’re upset with the lack of information surrounding when nail salons will be able to reopen in California.
“Very frustrated, seeing all these other businesses being able to open and nothing mentioned about us, not even a word,” he said.
He said between the two salons they own in Hillcrest, they’ve had to pay around $70,000 in rent during the three months of closure, while also losing at least an estimated six figures in revenue.
In May, Governor Newsom had said Phase 3 of reopening would include hair salons, nail salons, barbershops, gyms, and movie theaters for counties that meet certain metrics. So far, all businesses on that list have been told either they can open or when they can open, except nail salons.
When the closures started, Nguyen said they immediately began planning how to safely reopen. As a nail salon, they already took sanitizing steps and technicians wore masks and gloves, which will continue. In addition, they purchased panels for manicures that will go between the technician and the customer that will be cleaned between customers. All chairs will also be sanitized between people. They will take everyone’s temperatures before entering and are asking all customers to fill out a quick survey about their current health. They also spaced out all stations to add six feet between customers. At first, they will be appointment only. In addition, they added a new touch-free area to wash hands with a touch-free sink and soap dispenser.
Hillcrest Nail Lounge employee Sarah Nguyen said it’s been hard to watch her place of work suffer and said she is ready to get back to work.
“I want to go back to work, I want to get back to work as soon as possible and I want it now,” she said. “We want to pay taxes. We want the economy to go up. We don’t want it to stay like this.”
She also said she hopes nail salons aren’t being punished because so many of them have Asian owners.
“We all come to the United States, left our countries, come here to a better life but three months now, everything has changed,” she said.
Brian and his wife Tracy own Hillcrest Nail Lounge and Tippy Toes Nails and Spa.
