In the end, maybe a gift shop at the Hotel Lafayette might not have been the best fit with the rest of the wedding-related businesses that moved in from the get-go. But, with the closing of room‘s satellite shop, the doors have swung wide open for photographer and make-up artist Katie Ambrose, and her partner Jen Hurley, to open a swank, line-exclusive beauty bar that aims to put downtown Buffalo on the map for extraordinary hotel salon services – one that will also be open to the public.
“We’re bringing some life into the hotel in the form of dry styling shampoos, the world’s best make up lines (new to Buffalo) such as Rouge Bunny Rouge (Moscow and London based), USLU Airlines (Berlin based – nail polishes and lipstick named after international cities and airports), and we’ll be working on a blow-dry bar after that,” Katie mentioned. “Then we’ll be carrying Malin + Goetz (shaving cream and lotions – unisex products) – also candles with scents that range from cannabis to mojito. Groom service will be part apothecary shop, part energy and healing and revitalizing oasis, and part relaxed getaway where clients can grab a martini from Mike A’s, listen to cool tunes, grab an intention card, and immerse themselves into a world full of beauty services and products… a happy place with good energy.”
Katie has been in the beauty and fashion industry for quite some time, working with Stila Cosmetics and clients that include Estee Lauder, Annabel Tollman, Eli Lilly and L’Oreal Paris. Also, through her connections in other cities, such as her friend who own Ruby Room in Chicago, Katie has managed to track down the best of the best when it comes to the bar’s offerings.
Ultimately Katie also wants to tie all of the beauty bar’s products and services into the hotel rooms. “Eventually, once we have established the beauty bar, we would like to work with ‘room’ (Buffalo business that decorates the hotel rooms) so that we can offer services directly to the clients without them even leaving their accommodations,” Katie added. “Our services would range from massages, raiki, crystal biomats (great for hangovers) to room and body essence sprays.”
If you ask me, this is the perfect addition to the Hotel @ The Lafayette. If their concept works according to plan, the business partners would like to create a more vibrant scene in the lobby of the hotel, full of life. “These are the types of relationships that you see with top hotels around the world,” Katie pointed out. “We want to change the entrance of the hotel into a busy place, with people coming in and out looking for products and services that are exclusive to the hotel. That buzz will also change the way people interact with the hotel – that’s good for us and it’s good for the hotel.”
Groom Service | Facebook | Hotel @ The Lafayette | 391 Washington Street @ Hotel Lafayette | Buffalo, New York 14203 | (716) 508-0857