Suzanne Rozdeba Richard Cacace at Salon Champu

Suzanne Rozdeba

Last month, the owner of Salon Champu and Body Beautiful on East Seventh Street said he was planning to combine the salon and spa at a new address. Last week, he opened Salon Champu at 199 East Fourth Street, the space previously occupied by body piercer-to-the-stars Maria Tash.

“People still come in here asking if they can get a new piercing,” Richard Cacace laughed as he showed The Local around his new spot, simple and cozy with large, thick-framed mirrors leaning against an exposed brick wall.

Mr. Cacace thought it was a good sign, particularly from an economic perspective, to see other shops like Croissanteria opening up nearby on Avenue A. “Now, there are these unique, specialty businesses opening up, compared to the old Alphabet City, where there were mostly bodegas,” he said. “These new shops uplift the area and give it more credibility.”

The salon offers organic hair coloring, Keratin treatments, Japanese hair-straightening treatments, vegan hair-care
services, and skin care services such as facials and laser and wax treatments.

Salon Champu, 199 East Fourth Street, (212) 529-6925.