Lash Out Loud​ Beauty Bar Plans To Reopen After Over 2 Months

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Lash Out Loud in New Rochelle is playing a waiting game right now, its owner still unsure when it will be allowed to reopen, Yolan Baker told Patch.

Baker owns Lash Out Loud, a beauty bar on North Avenue that offers services like lash extensions, waxing, makeup and more. She said March 2020 was set to mark the first month since the business opened last year in which the beauty bar was set to turn a profit. Then, the new coronavirus hit.

"We have been unable to make any revenue since we had to close our doors on March 15, while still being required to pay rent and utilities," Baker said. "May 1 was our 1-year anniversary, and instead of throwing a party for our clients and employees, we were filling out grant and loan applications to keep our doors open."

But, the money never came.

"Small businesses are not getting the assistance they need on a federal and local level to stay open," she said. "Rent is still due. Loans and grants are getting denied. The only way to survive will be to have the consumers come out and support these small businesses by patronizing with them consistently and spreading the word via social media or word of mouth."

Baker said the beauty bar won't be allowed to open until phase four in the Hudson Valley.

In the meantime, she's working to prepare Lash Out Loud so her employees and clients stay safe and healthy.

"First and foremost, we miss our clientele who have become family greatly and are counting the minutes until we can see them again," she said. "Our neighbors can support us by purchasing gift cards and making appointments as soon as we announce our reopening. We will be moving to an appointment-only structure moving forward."

1. What is your business’ name? Lash Out Loud
2. What type of business is it? Beauty Bar (Lash extension, Full Body Waxing, Makeup, and More)
3. What’s the best phone number to contact you regarding your business? (This information won’t be shared). 631-428-0463
4. Where is your business located? New Rochelle, NY
5. Which reopening phase applies to your business? Phase 4
6. Do you intend to reopen your business when it’s permitted by Gov. Cuomo? Yes, definitely if we can find a way to keep up with the rent until we are allowed to reopen.
7. How has the closure affected your business in the short-term? The long-term? In the short term we have been unable to make any revenue since we had to close our doors on March 15th, while still being required to pay rent and utilities. In the long term, we were forced to closed 10 months into our first year of business. As most people know the first year is the hardest for a new small business. In February 2020, we had just had our best month since opening, and based on appointments pre-booked for March, we were set to have the first month that we did not take a loss. As we are located in New Rochelle, where the first COVID patient was discovered, we started feeling the effects on March 2nd, and saw a stark increase in cancellations and by March 15th we had to close our doors. May 1st, was our 1 year anniversary and instead of throwing a party for our clients and employees, we were filling out grant and loan applications to keep our doors open.
8. What is the struggle you’ve faced as you prepare to reopen your business? We have not been given a date to reopen, so we just have to hurry and wait. We are not able to properly prepare, and there is no clear communication on new requirements, possible reopen dates, or even how New Rochelle intends to help small businesses stay afloat.
9. What should your customers know about your business as it reopens? First and foremost we miss our clientele who have become family greatly and are counting the minutes until we can see them again. We are also taking all of the preemptive steps we can to ensure we are fully ready to accommodate our clients in this new world.
10. How can neighbors support your business as you begin the process of reopening? Our neighbors can support us by purchasing gift cards, and making appointments as soon as we announce our reopening. We will be moving to an appointment only structure moving forward.