This is kind of an unusual... but somehow typical Buffalo story. A recent chapter of Louisa Dunican's life began when searching for cities to move to on the internet. After choosing Buffalo, a place that she had never been (she wanted to be near NYC, but not in it), Louisa began to scour Craig's List for an available salon space to operate. She happened upon one of the modern white houses located across from the Mobile station at Elmwood and Lexington (and a couple others) and decided to make the trip from Texas to check them out. And that's when this story becomes "Sooo Buffalo".
While waiting at the Houston airport Louisa struck up a conversation with a woman, Cherie Tucci, who was visiting Texas for a seminar. It turned out that Cherie was from Buffalo and she proceeded to tell Louisa that she was familiar with one of the salon spaces she was going to look at. As a matter of fact the salon space at the corner of Elmwood and Lexington once housed the salon where Cherie had gone just before her wedding. The two women talked about Buffalo, exchanged numbers and said 'goodbye'.
It was only when Louisa arrived to Buffalo that she realized her reserved apartment on South Johnson Park had fallen through. Of course, not knowing another soul in Buffalo, Louisa called Cherie. "I once lived on Johnson Park," Cherie told her. "I think that somehow, 'someone' has made sure that you are taken care of." And with that Louisa moved into Cherie's home for the next three months until she could get her new salon open... and you know where that is. Cherie even helped choose the name of the salon - Naava is Hebrew for 'beautiful' and Louisa is originally from London (to New York, to Texas, and then to Buffalo).
Louisa is a trained hair stylist from London, though she is committed to only being on the operational side of things at Naava. She has already signed on four stylists that will be operating within her seven-station salon. Justin Collins, her head stylist and extension specialist, is teaching her the Buffalo ropes while she is busy pulling the business together. "We're doing things a little different here," she told me. "We're a full-service unisex salon that will be open seven days a week and later in the evening. We're a well educated, hi-fashion salon and we’re all about the customer. We're offering a free manicure or pedicure to anyone who comes in for another service (extensions, style, color, cut, etc.)" "Someone can get a quick style before heading downtown," Justin added. "Or we'll even take care of a midnight emergency. Plus, if you want, you can give your friends access to the live streaming video so that they can see you at the salon. We want the salon to be a fun experience."
Naava of London is located at 580 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. 716-783-9728