Morris Park nail salon recognized as best in state
BY JASON COHEN
Melitza Roman fell in love
with nails and beauty care
at a young age and recently,
her lifelong passion was recognized
when her salon was
named the best in the state.
On Sunday, October 27, Stiletto
Goddess Nail Salon, 724
Van Nest Avenue was the recipient
of the 2019 Nail Salon of
the Year at the inaugural New
York Hair and Beauty Awards.
It was the only salon nominated
from the Bronx.
The event was organized
by Creative Oceanic and held
at the Long Island Marriott in
Uniondale.
“I was so proud I got
picked,” she said. “I’m happy
that I could do something
where I grew up and give back
to the community.”
Roman, 37, was raised in
the projects on Webster Avenue
and always envisioned
having a career in beauty.
She used to paint Barbie
doll nails and fi nd ways to
make things pretty.
In high school she did her
friends’ nails and hair and at
the age of 18, went to school for
nails.
The Allerton/Pelham Parkway
resident honed her skills
at a few shops while in her 20s
and early 30s, and learned the
ins and outs of the business.
She observed her owners, colleagues
and managers and
learned how to deal with people
and more importantly, understood
the value of being a
hands on owner.
“It was like me preparing
myself to do now what I really
wanted to do,” Roman remarked.
So, after having fi ve kids,
now aged 19, 18, 15, 11 and 6,
she told her husband Anthony,
it was time to have her own
shop. So, they looked on Craigslist
for a location and found
one across the street from
where they are now.
When they arrived there,
she immediately was drawn to
the vacancy at her salon and
said to her husband that place
is perfect.
After 25 calls to the landlord
and some convincing from
her hubby, the spot was theirs.
“When I looked in there,
I could just envision everything,”
Roman explained.
With numerous clients
Melitza Roman holding the award in the middle in a white dress, it is (Left to Right: Barb, Ashley, Melitza, JoJo,
and Dee). Photo Courtesy Creative Oceanic
from 20 years of doing nails,
she opened the shop’s doors in
2016 and has been a smashing
success from the start.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, N 36 OVEMBER 15-21, 2019 BTR
In fact, appointments are
already booked until December
2020.
But, in August, everything
changed when Creative Oceanic
called saying a few clients
nominated the salon for the
prestigious award. She submitted
her portfolio and then
received an email saying the
store was a fi nalist.
“I was still in shock. I kept
it secret,” she said.
She told the employees a
week later and everyone was
on ‘cloud nine’ and could not
wait for the ceremony.
Chatter built on social media
and eventually, Stiletto
Goddess took home the prize
for best salon. The salon will
automatically be invited back
next year.
According to Roman, the
award is only the tip of the iceberg.
She plans to build on her
success, and one day open a
larger store.
She and her employees are
one big family and support
each other through good times
and bad.
“I just love how I make
women feel,” Roman said. “I
like doing nails because it allows
me to be creative. Once
they leave, it’s like they have a
piece of me.”
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