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Tara Weldon and her Hot Mess ‘tribe’ opened the doors of its new boutique and bridal salon at its new location 10 a.m. Tuesday. Within the hour clients were in the hot seats [so to speak] and visitors were stopping by to wish them well.

Located at the corner of Press Plaza’s Emory Street and Cookman Avenue, the boutique salon will features an expansion of services and the ability for Weldon to grow her mission to help new stylist entering the business.  

“We really want to focus on educating young up and coming stylist coming out of beauty school,” she has said. “Giving back to community is an important part of what we do.”

Since the November announcement of her expansion to the former Passion Group building, Weldon has grown Hot Mess from six stylists sharing five workstations to 10 stylists sharing 9 stations, with plans to hire 10 more employees.

The boutique salon features a full lineup of hair services as well as its bridal and other special occasion services, including men’s and women’s haircuts, extensions, keratin treatments, traditional and balayage coloring. They have added spray tanning, full body waxing, manicure and pedicure services to the menu, with plans on opening an eyelash extension station next month.

“I am so excited to present our beautiful new home and can’t wait to share it with all of you, she posted in the Monday night social media announcement.

A Jersey Shore native, Weldon and husband Mike Pimco have been a part of the Asbury Park entrepreneurial club for a decade.

Pimco opened Style Rockets on the Asbury Park boardwalk nine years ago and is part owner in a number of local businesses, including the Asbury Park Brewery on Sewall just off Main Street.

Weldon is the driving force behind the Pink Party, in support of Mary’s Place By The Sea of Ocean Grove, and the annual Kentucky Derby Party at Watermark, held in support of Second Call, a Helmetta-based charity that works to save retired race horses – including those from Monmouth Park.

Weldon said she became interested in the cause through her father Kevin Weldon’s work at Monmouth Park as the backstretch manager and organizer of the Breeder’s Cup.

The Kentucky Derby Party will be held 4 p.m. Sunday at Watermark, located at 800 Ocean Avenue in the First Avenue Pavilion on the Asbury Park boardwalk.

In continuing to marry their business interests, an offshoot of Style Rocket will open within the close to 6,000 square foot space next month.

“We really want to support the growth of of the Asbury Park community, which we are so passionate about,” said Weldon who lives with her husband and two children in Belmar. “We are always looking for the next thing. When we see something that excites us, we just go for it.”

Currently Hot Mess, located at 600 Cookman Ave, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 pm. Saturday and 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call 732.774.3515 or visit their website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

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