Hair Salon's Move Leaves Lawrence Space Empty

moved from Lawrence to Cedarhurst about six months ago, leaving building owner Arthur Valenti to find a suitable new tenant for the vacancy.

“There have been several people interested in the location, but I decided not to rent to them," he said. "They didn’t seem like they were going to make it,” 

Valenti said he wants to hold out for a long-term tenant that has a promising venture and business plan, rather than rent to someone who isn’t likely to succeed, have trouble paying their rent and possibly leave the store vacant again. He said that he thinks his former tenant, who was unavailable for comment, moved out because business was slow.

“I’m not completely sure why the owner moved to Cedarhurst,” said Howard Kris, a longtime resident of Cedarhurst and owner of , an eyewear store across the street. “Possibly it was for lower rent. The  new store is on a side street now, so it might be a little cheaper there.”

The owner of the hair salon not only relocated, but changed the name of the business too. It is now located at 82 Spruce St., and fittingly named Salon 82.

The vacancy, at 353 Central Ave., is 1,000 square feet and cost $2,200 per month for rent. According to Valenti, it includes a double basement for storage and has a new heating and air conditioning system. He said that the new tenant doesn’t necessarily have to have a hair salon. He is open to many types of businesses, as long as it’s not a food establishment.

According to Miriam Holman and Adina Gold, students from Tichon Meir Moshe High School in Far Rockaway, a convenience store or accessory shop is what is needed in Lawrence.

“We hang out in the Five Towns all the time,” Gold said. “There’s so much more action here than Far Rockaway. They could use a store like a 7-11 over here.”

Holman agreed, adding that “An accessory shop should move in there, a place that has things like handbags and jewelry. on Rockaway Turnpike is good, but it would be better to have something in walking distance to the other places we hang out [on Central Avenue]."

Two local residents, who preferred not to be named, said that they would really like to see a 24-hour drug store or a plus-size woman’s clothing shop take over that location, two businesses they say are completely absent from the Five Towns.

“It’s a fairly small store, so the rent is probably more reasonable than some of the larger places and might work well for a clothing store," Kris said, "although retail is a very hard business.”