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Woodside: New owner for Salon beauty shop

by Jane Knoerle

Emily Nessi Kelley is back in her old hometown with a new venture. Well, not exactly new. She is now proprietor of The Salon beauty shop in Woodside, once owned by her mom, Charlene Nessi (from 1985 to 2002). In those days, the shop was known as Images.

After graduating from college, Ms. Kelley worked in several small businesses on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park, including Calla, Runners High and Peet's Coffee and Tea. "I hung around that street for quite a while, but I got tired of working for others," she says.

Out of the blue, she wrote a letter to The Salon's last owner, Irene Quitson, asking her if she would ever be willing to sell. Ms. Quitson replied she was interested in selling, had many offers, but was looking for just the right person. Emily Nessi Kelley filled the bill.

Ms. Kelley grew up in Woodside and graduated from Woodside Elementary and Woodside High. Now she and her daughter Teagan (means fair and beautiful in Irish), are living in the Glens with her mom, Charlene. Teagan is following family footsteps and attending Woodside Elementary.

Emily coaxed her mom out of retirement and back to The Salon to cut hair a day or so a week. She is busy re-connecting with longtime patrons, some of whom have been coming to the shop since the day it opened.

Ms. Kelley is enthusiastic about running a salon. "My background is small business. I don't do hair, but I'm getting this place back to being busy and fun," she says. "We've brightened the place up and we're offering full service: waxing, facials, nails, extensions, even Brazilian Blowouts."

The Salon is located at Canada Corners, 3040 Woodside Road, in Woodside.