Changes are beginning to take form at Hot Mess Studio’s new home in the former Passion Group building located at the corner of Press Plaza’s Emory Street and Cookman Avenue.
The boutique salon, owned by Jersey Shore native Tara Weldon, will feature a full lineup of services as well as its bridal and other special occasion services.
I’m so excited,” Weldon [at right] said. “At the height of the summer, if I had an event or wedding, I would have to close down because I didn’t have enough space. “I’m really excited for the holiday season, for sure.”
Weldon, a newly elected member of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Downtown Merchant’s Guild, was among those who championed for expanding the Central Business District [CBD] services to include a retail component on the ground floor of mixed use buildings along Cookman Avenue.
“It feels really awesome to have an impact on the community,” the Belmar resident said. “In addition to being a woman and an entrepreneur, being able to help the city grow and rise up is so sexy to me. I just have this love for Asbury Park.”
The changes were approved by the City Council during an October vote on CBD amendments.
“Things are moving pretty quickly,” said Weldon who began to refurbish the space at the end of last month. “The space already lends itself to what i need.”
Currently Hot Mess is located up the street at 651 Cookman Ave but the new shop is slated to open in January, Weldon said. Passion Group will maintain two offices, with an entrance on Emory.
Aside from its men’s and women’s haircutting, extensions, keratin treatments, traditional and balayage coloring, services will include spray tanning, full body waxing, and eyelash extensions.
The move allows Weldon to grow from six stylists sharing five workstations to 10 to 12 stylists sharing 8 or 9 stations, she said. There will be three manicure and three pedicure station.
“The dynamic of the city has changed and my schedule has changed to accommodate that,” Weldon said “Now we are here six days and we are filling up from because the need is there. Aside from filling up from people in town our staff’s clients are booking appointments and choosing to spend the day in the city.”
With the expansion, will come the opportunity to offer new stylists guidance, she said.
“We really want to focus on educating young up and coming stylist coming out of beauty school,” she said. “Giving back to community is an important part of what we do.”
Weldon, who is married to boardwalk located Style Rocket’s owner Mike Pimco Marakovitz [at right], is the brains behind the annual Kentucky Derby Party held at Watermark in support of an adopt a thoroughbred charity as well as the Pink Party, in support of Mary’s Place By The Sea of Ocean Grove.
“We get the staff involved; everyone participates,” she said.
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