Jean Paul Spa & Salons joins New York historic business registry
GUILDERLAND — A hair salon and spa that has been in business for more than 50 years in the Capital Region has marked its induction into New York’s historic business registry.
On Thursday, Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy celebrated the spa and salon’s induction with their staff and state and local officials. Owner Amanda O’Hearn received a historic business certificate and a seal, which she placed by the entrance of her Guilderland location. Her business is one of about 119 New York businesses inducted into the registry since it was established in 2020.
In 1972, brothers Jean Claude and Paul Simille founded the business in Albany. It now includes locations in Guilderland, Latham and North Greenbush and employs over 100 people. On Thursday, 86-year-old Jean Claude, calling from France, expressed his joy about the milestone during a video call with a group of employees.
“Jean Claude founded this salon 51 years ago with the goal of fostering a sense of community and promoting an environment where everyone can look and feel beautiful,” said O’Hearn, who has owned the salon since 2018, following almost a decade as a marketing partner. “When I took over the business, I wanted to continue his legacy by nourishing the communities we serve and contribute to the growth of the health and the beauty industry.”
In 2020, the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry was established by state officials to honor and promote longstanding businesses. State law allows up to 10 nominations per term by New York senate and assembly members, as well as by the governor and lieutenant governor. To be considered for the registry, a business must have operated for a minimum of 50 years.
“The fact that Jean Paul has done this for over 50 years, has now expanded, they’re the largest spa and salon in the region, what they have done is just amazing,” said Fahy, who nominated the business to the registry.
Kathy Howe of the state Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, which administers the registry, said Jean Paul Spa and Salons is the first day spa to be inducted.
“Local businesses like Jean Paul’s are the backbone of our villages, our towns, our cities, large and small, across New York state,” Howe said. “At a time when many businesses are facing true challenges, new unique challenges, this honorific program allows us to get the chance to truly recognize the good work that was being done here in businesses such as this.”
During the pandemic, Jean Paul Spa and Salons relied on product shipping and delivery, with root sprays, popular for concealing gray hair, in high demand, O’Hearn said.
“People didn’t realize how much they needed their hair salon and hair spas, I think, until they couldn’t access them anymore,” O’Hearn said.
Last year, the spa and hair salon grew by adding the North Greenbush branch. O’Hearn plans to expand its main Stuyvesant Plaza location to include a medical spa by the end of the year. In an interview, she said the spa and salon has partnered with Reviva Wellness, which provides anti-aging and immune-boosting IV therapies.
“The beauty industry has changed. And I think even through COVID it had a huge effect on self care, and people were slowing down and starting to realize that their health was important and that the way that they felt inside and out was important,” O’Hearn said.
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