Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
There’s news about two Alki Beach businesses we wrote about in October, Boat Saigon Café at 2632 Alki SW, and Red Nails salon (initially known as Alki Beach Nails) around the corner at 2648 59th SW.
Nhung Tran, who owns both businesses along with her sister Thu Tran, tells us that Boat Saigon Café should open mid-January. Meanwhile, the Trans may be selling Red Nails, which has been open since November.
According to Nhung, she and Thu decided that Boat Saigon Café could keep them both busy enough that they should sell Red Nails, which they put up for sale not long after it opened. But though the salon is officially still listed for sale, Nhung isn’t ruling out keeping both businesses. She is, however, realistic: it’s winter on Alki Beach, and the nail salon could use more customers.
“Been open only one month, and every day have two, three, or one customer,” Nhung says, but makes a point of adding, “That’s not so bad. My friend [who also owns a nail salon] goes sometimes two days or three days, no customer. We’re slow because it’s winter, but still better than a lot of [businesses] that I have seen.”
Indeed, in the middle of the first rainy, gray Monday after the holidays, a new customer walks into the cheerful, bright pink salon and asks for a manicure. Grand opening prices are helping bring people in, Nhung says. A full manicure is $15, while a pedicure/manicure is $35. The salon also offers repairs, nail art, and foot massage ($10 for 20 minutes).
“If we don’t sell, we want to remodel,” Nhung says. She would like to add equipment to provide waxing and facials to help build up her customer base.
Both sisters remain optimistic about Boat Saigon Café, where renovations are nearly complete. Though rain has been thwarting some of the outside work, an attractive fence made up of panels with a leafy decoration is in place. You may have walked by – here’s a closer look:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/fencecloseup.jpg)
Nhung thinks the café should be open within two weeks. In the meantime, she laughs, “If you want to support my nail salon, it’s okay.”
Thanks to Kelly for her e-mail tip about the possible sale, which inspired this followup.
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