West Hollywood resident Bobby Trendy shared the heart-rending experience of watching two local nail salons lose their storefronts in a Facebook eulogy on Wednesday.
Garden Nail Spa (8587 Santa Monica Blvd.) and Isle of Serenity (8929 Santa Monica Blvd.) are both closed for business now, with Trendy’s phots showing an eviction notice on Isle of Serenity’s door.
“Today at 10:12 AM, sharp, we lost Isle of Serenity Nails salon and Garden Nail at 11:15 AM, sharp, respectively, quietly without any fanfare,” Trendy wrote. “People were carrying nail polishes and implements. Bottles of acetone with their heads bowed down, as if they were being condemned for using wire hangers. Nail files littered the streets. Gel nails were cascading down Santa Monica Boulevard like a slow, brisk afternoon stream cascading from Niagara. Potted succulents were placed in the hands of onlookers with their glazed over, glassy eyes weeping in astonishment, worthy of an Oscar-winning performance by Tallulah Bankhead playing opposite of Frederick Fairbanks Junior, directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Nail polishes were handed out like missionaries distributing bags of rice in Third World countries. It was solemn and grim, reminiscent of Rock Hudson’s memorial in July of 1985. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Violin and trumpet music in D minor played softly in the background as people led one another out the back door, as if traveling to the Promised Land together, looking over their shoulders for one final glimpse of history that was about to vanish like Houdini before their very eyes. Jonathan Chang begrudgingly clutched onto a bottle of Vamp Noir and reminisced about the last time he had that color on his California-curved nails. We bid you adieu, nail techs of Isle of Serenity and Garden Nail. As I always remind you, Queens, the rent is not a musical!”
“The city government is making it impossible to thrive in WeHo,” Rod Kratovil commented, while Rusty Stockman noted that Isle of Serenity has moved to a “much nicer” location on Sunset Boulevard.
I hate to throw some reality on this lovely drama, but Isle of Serenity did not renew their lease months ago and relocated to a larger and brand new Sunset Plaza location (with two-levels of free parking) months ago. The staff was given the opportunity to relocate or find new jobs. On that note: HiTops has taken over the Isle of Serenity space and is in the process of adding on to their current location and expanding the patio. Tallulah would be pleased. “ Oh daaarling, get your facts right…”
Enjoyed this!
Good. There always was too many hair, nail & waxing salons on Santa Monica Blvd on the westside. Good riddance & I hope they will be replaced by more desirable & exciting stores.
Sorry Bobby, this town could use a couple fewer nail salons. No loss.
I’m curious about how much they were behind in rent for a landlord to succeed in evicting a long term tenant like this.
Maybe we could find that info out before highlighting a comment that blames this on the city (lazy take).
More pot shops coming?
More ads for Jay Luchs whoever they are