"Choose your color, " are the first words that most hear upon entering a nail salon, however, somehow it sounds a bit different at Bonnie's. Perhaps the voices seem friendlier simply because I have been coming here for so many years and know everyone quite well. Chen Xiufen, known as Michelle in her shop, came to New York from China in 1999. She left her career as a math teacher to join her husband on their new adventure. That same year, her daughter, Bonnie, was born and some five years later, Michelle and her husband, Linjie, decided to open their first salon on 72nd Street. Fast forward to 2015, and they have just opened their second, also on West 72nd, this time appropriately named "Michelle's". In an area where the prices can be high for a manicure and pedicure, Michelle has been able to keep hers down while offering great services, including the bonus neck and back massage at the end. Renovated in 2014, the well-lit salon is spacious, with one mirrored wall, another in a bright pink, and the back area painted in a soft gray. The staff of ten, some who been with Michelle for seven or more years, work efficiently, making sure that no one has a long wait. Despite the fact that I do not understand what they are saying, the conversation that the employees engage in while working on their customers is always filled with smiles and laughter. There is even one young man, Alex, who has been here since 2010. When I inquired as to whether or not he had experience doing manicures and pedicures prior to Bonnie's, he said yes, but that Michelle was a "great teacher and a very nice manager, " and so he has not looked elsewhere since he arrived. In addition to mani pedis, the salon offers facials, waxing, and lengthier massages. OPI and Essie nail polishes are well represented at Bonnie's. Michelle proudly told me that she has "every color that they make" on her shelves, including their color gels. In concluding my conversation about the business, I asked Michelle what her favorite part of owning the salon was, and she immediately responded, "the people. " She went on to say that there are so many loyal customers who have been coming for years - including me.
