Sitting in the heart of New York's SoHo neighborhood is Alibi NYC, a 2,200-square-foot, open-space loft that's shifting the salon atmosphere and experience. Comfortably situated on the second floor of a historic building built in the 1890's, Alibi NYC brings a new vibe to the typical hair salon, merging old-school elements with a futuristic design. The salon's design comes full circle with exposed brick, marbled wallpaper and sparkling chandeliers.
Israeli-born hairstylist Koby Ben opened Alibi NYC in 2010. "The first step was finding an investor, who happened to be one of my clients," Ben says. "He believed in my skills, and during one of our sessions I shared my vision with him on how I pictured the modern salon."
Eight years later, Alibi is not only surviving in the big city, it's thriving. Bringing his vision of a 21st century salon to life, Ben says he and his staff go above and beyond on a regular basis to make the client's experience unique and worthwhile. "We love pampering them," he says. "We always offer custom head and hand massages—complete with hot towels and essential oils—and cocktails while they get their services."
Above all else, Ben says he and his staff simply love what they do. "The key to build a successful salon business is to actually enjoy running it," he says. "Be ready to work hard and be a part of the difficult race against some of the best in the industry. You can't do it on your own, so get some good people around you," he adds. "Treat people the way you want to be treated."