Mayfair business owner
fights for the avenue

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Lois Burak wants to do something about what she sees as a saturation of "budget" nail salons in Mayfair.
Burak is a veteran businesswoman in the area. She has owned Beautyworx Salon & Day Spa, at 7242 Frankford Ave., since 1986.
Beautyworx is doing a good business, with clients coming from the city, suburbs and New Jersey. Burak said the shop offers upscale service while providing a good living for employees.
But Burak wants the rest of the Frankford Avenue commercial strip to improve, both aesthetically and economically. She contends her beef with nail salons isn’t because they’re vying for the same customer.
"Competition does not bother me," she said.
Burak decided to act after learning that, two years ago, an ordinance passed City Council that prohibited certain uses in a section of Germantown. Those uses were barber and beauty shops, manicure/nail salons and retail sales of wigs, beauty products, cell phones, pagers and variety store merchandise.
The local businesswoman collected signatures on a petition, then contacted the office of City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski (D-6th dist.). Next, she went to last week’s meeting of the Mayfair Community Development Corporation, the parent of the Mayfair Business Association.
Burak, in talking to customers and fellow business owners, said there is general agreement that something has to be done to control the number of nail salons.
"I think I have a pretty good pulse of what people want," she said.
Burak is proud of the interior and exterior of her shop. She wants the avenue to be filled with nice stores that operate in a clean, safe environment.
"I genuinely care about the area and want to invest more," she said.
Burak has several options, including pushing for the creation of a special services district. She doesn’t think that’s necessary at this point, and many merchants would probably balk at the tax associated with such a district.
Besides, the Mayfair CDC performs some of the same services.
"They have a special services district with us," said Reese Hartey, president of the CDC.
Burak could also work for an ordinance to ban future budget nail salons, but Council would be unlikely to pass a measure for such a long stretch of a business district.
The most likely scenario would be to pass a so-called "overlay" bill that would require future budget nail salons to win approval in front of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Hartey said the CDC would support whatever the majority of the merchants want. Meanwhile, Burak waits for word from Krajewski’s office on how to proceed.
In other news from the Sept. 19 meeting:
• The fifth annual Mayfair Night of Champions dinner dance will take place Friday, Oct. 12, at the Marsico, 3515 Welsh Road.
The guests of honor will be Father Judge High School football coach Tom Coyle, Deputy Managing Director Tom Conway and Leo Dignam, program director for the Department of Recreation.
Music will be provided by Cheers the Band. Tickets cost $100. Sponsorship opportunities are available. A cocktail reception will be held at 6:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony and dinner at 7:30. The evening will conclude with dancing.
For more information, contact the Mayfair CDC office at 215-332-4414 or mayfaircdc2@verizon.net
• Rose McMenamin, a vice president at Third Federal Bank and treasurer of the CDC, said the organization will unveil the Mayfair Choice Community Discount Card in the next six weeks.
Consumers will sign up for the free card, and local businesses will be able to market directly to them. The customers will be able to present the cards for discounts and services. Stickers will be placed in the front windows of participating merchants.
The CDC wants the cards in customers’ hands by the start of the Christmas shopping season.
The Mayfair Choice Card is modeled after initiatives in other business districts, including Doylestown.
"It has been very, very effective," McMenamin said.
• Brian King, executive director of the CDC, said the group will soon launch a Web site and start a business card exchange program so local merchants get to know one another better. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com