Business Spotlight: Lee Ren Beauty Salon
Wong Chee Peng, owner of Lee Ren Beauty Salon
Lee Ren Beauty Salon
104 Forsyth St #1
(212) 343-9662
Welcome to Chinatown spoke with Wong Chee Peng, owner of Lee Ren Beauty Salon and a Longevity Fund grant recipient. The full-service salon offers affordable haircuts, perms, trims, color, and more.
Tell us about yourself and the business!
When I immigrated to the United States, I started washing hair, sweeping floors and was eventually promoted to cutting and coloring hair. I started this business in 2003 with my business partner to offer haircuts, perms, trims, and color.
How did you get into the hairdressing business?
Back in my home country, I enrolled in a trade school to become a beautician. I fell in love with it because I enjoy helping people become the person they want to see in the mirror.
Why did you decide to open a salon in Chinatown?
We’re all Chinese in the shop, so it makes sense to open here and serve our community. As immigrants, it’s comforting to be around people who speak the same language and come from a similar cultural background.
“…it makes sense to open here and serve our community….We build relationships with our clients that turn them into return customers.”
Who are your customers?
We have all types - young and old, men and women, Chinese and non-Chinese.
What is special about Lee Ren Beauty Salon that keeps customers coming back?
The level of service and sense of community we have here. We build relationships with our clients that turn them into return customers.
Any favorite memories from the salon?
Every time someone leaves a happy customer, it really brings joy to me. Seeing new return customers is great since they always tell me what brings them back — usually a combination of our service quality and home-like atmosphere.
“Our business is down over 50%. Typically around Lunar New Year, a huge wave of people get their hair done, but it hasn’t happened this year.”
How has the pandemic affected your business?
We closed like everyone else in March and re-opened in May 2020. A lot of our older customers haven’t returned because their families are concerned for their health and safety. Many older men stopped coming. Because they live with other people, during the lockdown, they figured out they could have others cut their hair, and got into that habit. It’s mostly women who are coming back. Their hair tends to be really long since they haven’t had it cut in a while.
Our business is down over 50%. Typically around Lunar New Year, a huge wave of people get their hair done, but it hasn’t happened this year.
How will the Longevity Fund grant help your business?
Our glass front door just broke, so we’ll use the funds to replace it. Anything left over will be used to cover supplies like hairdressing equipment, shampoo, and conditioner.
If you’d like to support Lee Ren Beauty Salon, stop by 104 Forsyth Street, #1 (between Grand and Broome Streets.) Call (212) 343-9662 to make an appointment.
Chinatown establishments like Lee Ren Beauty Salon are what makes the spirit of our neighborhood. We need your support to keep that spirit alive. Please consider donating to The Longevity Fund, our small business relief fund, or help us spread the word of what’s at stake. Together, we can preserve Chinatown businesses and help keep Chinatown open for business.
Photo Credit: Steven Yen
