Hair salon chooses redevelopment zone

      Tammy Poe may be a recent newcomer to the hair care business, but she intends to make her mark as one of the pioneers in Henderson's redevelopment campaign.
      Little more than five years after delving into cosmetology, Poe opened Bellisima Beauty Center and Spa, located at 12 W. Pacific Ave., in December. She said the concept for the 6,000-square-foot salon was created while she was still learning her craft.
      "The day I hit beauty school is when I wanted to open up a salon," Poe said. "This salon, the exact floorplan almost to the tee, is what I had in my head five years ago."
      The full-service salon houses 22 hair cutting stations, nine manicuring stations, two pedicure stations with foot whirlpools and massaging chairs and two tanning beds. The facility also includes a spa with three massage rooms and two facial rooms.
      The spacious layout of the salon allows more room between many of the work stations, removing the cramped feeling which exists in many beauty salons. The placement of three waterfalls and several lighted candles throughout the facility also gives the business a more relaxed atmosphere.
      "We want to pamper the client," Poe said. "We want them to feel welcomed the minute they walk in the door and leave feeling good about themselves."
      The salon currently employs 31 beauty-care professionals who are well schooled in numerous product lines, such as BioElement, Farmesi, Joico, Matrix, Icon and American Crew. However, Poe said Bellisima's main specialty is hair colorization.
      "Hair is just like a form of art," she said. "You have to know where you're going and how to get there. And that's what makes us special is because we have color specialists who know how to treat the hair, and the results will always come out satisfactory. É We really take pride in our education background here."
      As part of Bellisima's full-service approach, a small cafe featuring sandwiches, salads and beverages exists adjacent to the salon for hungry patrons. Due to the lack of parking along Pacific, Poe is also considering the creation of a valet parking service for clients.
      Poe said she was excited about placing her business in downtown Henderson during the early stages of the city's redevelopment efforts to transform the area into a more polished, pedestrian-friendly commercial district.
      "When I heard about the redevelopment of the downtown area, I got excited about that because I have faith that there is going to be some upscale type of activities going on here," Poe said. "So I thought my idea would fit in perfect with the downtown area."
      The salon is currently operating at just 63 percent occupancy, yet Poe said the business is already turning a profit, with income nearly tripling over its six-month existence. She credited her employees, who receive profit-sharing benefits, for their role in Bellisima's rapid success.
      "When they're making money, I'm making money," Poe said. "So everybody's happy. É I just want to see this succeed and see everybody else succeed with it."
      Bellisima is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday. To reach the salon or schedule an appointment, call 558-3450.