Many people suffer serious setbacks in life. But for sisters Tina and Victoria Quinones, of Forest Park, the otherwise tumultuous trials of life turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
After re-evaluating their priorities and yearning for personal rejuvenation, the duo decided to take the plunge into the world of entrepreneurship, opening a boutique nail salon — a place where they could combine feminine energy and a passion for self-care.
So, following nearly a year of preparation and six months of prepping their new space, Pink Caviar Boutique at 3751 Grand Blvd. in Brookfield, is the culmination of the sisters’ efforts in creating a space that is uniquely them.
With a main focus on manicures and pedicures, Pink Caviar Boutique also offers eyelash extensions, facials, waxing and makeup application.
The sisters said Brookfield was the perfect place to open their premier family business.
“We looked around other retail spaces in local neighborhoods and then we found this one,” Victoria Quinones said. “It was definitely a build-out process, but there’s definitely a lot of potential here.”
Awash in hot pink and exposed brick walls, oversized pink thrones fit for royalty and chandeliers galore, Pink Caviar Boutique opened earlier this month with the purpose of turning an otherwise routine salon experience into something extraordinary.
“The decor was definitely a lot of Pinterest, but it pretty much complements both of us,” Tina Quinones said of the salon’s aesthetic. “[Victoria] is more of the modern contemporary and I’m more of the pink.”
Tina, who previously worked as a nurse, said her positive personal experiences in nail school inspired her and her sister to create a business founded upon the simple principles of kindness and old-fashioned hospitality.
“I loved [nail school] so much, just being with the ladies and talking,” Tina said. “It made me so happy.”
Victoria agrees with her sister, saying Pink Caviar Boutique aims to offer patrons of all ages a peppy and refreshing experience.
“We want to focus on quality over quantity and just focus on the person, what they want and what they need, and make them feel really relaxed and give them the experience they want of being pampered,” she said.
To further emphasize the sisters’ goal of having a one-of-a-kind warm and glamorous salon, Victoria said giving the business the right name was a big deal.
The name came in a flash, courtesy of Tina’s boyfriend, Tyler Howard, as they were brainstorming ideas.
“We wanted it to be something that is completely different from everything else and Tyler said, ‘It’s pink caviar,'” Victoria said. “Caviar is a delicacy and the pink color is very rare. When he said it, it clicked.”
So far, the sisters have set up Facebook and Instagram business pages for the salon but said word-of-mouth and foot traffic has helped attract the majority of customers.
For now, appointments are only being taken via phone and walk-ins are accommodated if there is enough staff availability, but once they have a full website available, online scheduling will be the standard.
Victoria and Tina are joined by two other staffers, but hope to add four additional employees to their roster to accommodate growing business.
The salon’s official grand opening/ribbon cutting with the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce will be held on Thursday, July 11 at 3 p.m.
Pink Caviar Boutique’s hours of operation are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays; and noon-4 p.m. Sundays. The salon is closed Mondays. The phone number is 708-255-5560.
