A new kind of nail salon opened in Chula Vista in December and the owners hope to start a trend in the nail service industry by offering a nightclub experience to customers, complete with wine and champagne service.
Boudoir Nail Bar on Tierra Del Rey is a 4,000-square-foot space designed by Davis Ink, an interior design firm which is known for working on some of the hippest bars and clubs in San Diego and neighboring counties.
“I wanted to design a place that was cool and hip, where a mom can go on Saturday morning or any day of the week, and still feel cool and hip,” said Nora Neff, owner of Nail Bar and mother of a 2-year-old son. “Because we never go out and we’re no longer cool or hip.”
Neff said she started developing the idea for the salon in 2010 when she was fed up with receiving poor quality service as a customer at various nail salons. She dreamed of creating a high-end nail salon atmosphere that fit the budget of middle class people.
“I’m a normal middle class American who won’t pay more than $50 to get a regular pedicure,” said Neff. “There are nice salons out there but they charge a lot. So your typical nail salon tends to be a hole in the wall and the customer service can be pretty terrible.”
One of the big challenges she faced was a lack of experience or knowledge on operating a nail salon. So she spent a few years educating herself on the industry and creating a business model that she could run with.
With her plan solidified, Neff set out to find the perfect location. A Spring Valley resident, Neff said Chula Vista was the right market for Nail Bar because of its high number of middle class residents, high customer traffic and reasonable rent.
With a current staff of about 10, Neff said she will employ as many as 30 people by next year.
“In the space I can service 20 clients at once,” said Neff. “That’s how envision it — to be booked all day with all seats taken, so I will need 20-plus employees at that time.”
