Soho Nails offers beauty, relaxation and loyalty on spring Street
BY LAURIE GORDON
NEWTON — There's a place on Spring Street where you can go and forget about the world for a while. Get lost in a book or magazine while your back is massaged and your feet are treated to a spa and pedicure complete with scrub, and a reflexology treatment. This is Soho Nails, and the goal of the owner is to help you relax and get pretty. Customers are loyal to Soho and So is loyal to Spring Street.
Sing Kim has been doing nails for over 19 years. She and her husband came to the United States from Korea because they wanted their daughter, Allie, to be brought up here. Soon, Allie had a sister named Ashley, and Kim had opened a nail salon in Hoboken where she was for two years. She wanted to move away from the city, and when her husband's friend told them about a space in a little town called Newton, the Kims explored and decided to move the salon there. Soho Nails of Newton was born.
Immediately, Kim started building a loyal following, many of whom have been with her since the beginning of her tenure in Newton. The only problems were that her space was too large and not near the hub-bub of town. When a spot near the center of Spring Street opened up, Kim made the move up the road several years ago.
“The space is a perfect size,” she said, and the building is certainly historic with an original tin roof. Inside, the Kims created a welcoming, warm environment where clients can relax and enjoy excellent service. Soho Nails invested in top-of-the-line massage chairs, so clients get a superb, relaxing massage during pedicures.
The business itself is about family. Kim's brother, Brian, and sister, Sarah have worked at the salon over the years. Of late, her eldest daughter, Allie, has become a manager, helping her mom with marketing, expanding into social networking and adding special nuances that set Soho apart from other nail salons. Ashley, Kim's younger daughter, sometimes helps as a receptionist along with her cousin, Hannah. “It's nice working as a family,” Allie Kim said, “We really pride ourselves on good service and don't rush through anything.” Attention to detail spans the salon's services which include all kinds of manicures, pedicures, spa pedicures, waxing, chair massage and reflexology. Specials include paraffin heel treatments in the colder months warm the customers and give dry feet some TLC, and each appointment ends with a relaxing neck massage while nails dry. Men are also welcome, and many come to enjoy the same relaxation and service as the women at Soho.
The Kims are pleased with Spring Street going one way because it affords their customers more parking. During the construction, they said they had a few rough days, but now that it's done, “It's great on rainy or snowy days so they can park close by,” Allie Kim said, “Customers really like that there's more parking.
Soho Nails runs coupons in The Township Journal and with the holidays coming, has specials on gift cards where when you buy five of any denomination, you get one free. While manicures are popular year round, some people think pedicures are only for the summer months, Allie Kim said, “In reality, its a great way to maintain the overall health of your feet all year round plus treat yourself to some relaxation.” Soho also has a card for customers, and when you get enough stamps, there's a $10 reward. Soho also does birthday parties for both kids and adults and specials for wedding parties and other special occasions where clients can bring their own beverages and food. “We want you to have a relaxing experience,” Kim said, “And we have very good prices.”