Branchburg Hair Salon Cited For Cutting Hair Outside: Video

BRANCHBURG, NJ — Forced to close three months ago due to the coronavirus, Hillsborough resident Melissa Colangelo and owner of DJ's Hair Salon in Branchburg, took social distancing measures and precautions into her own hands as she reopened to cut clients' hair outside last week. A video captured Branchburg Police citing Colangelo for violating Gov. Phil Murphy's executive order for having a non-essential business open. (See video below)

"Hopefully my voice was heard," said Colangelo who was hoping this sent a message to Murphy about struggling small businesses.

Colangelo, 50, has been working in the industry for 34 years of which 26 of them in Branchburg, as owner of her family's salon at 1045 Route 202. She says it costs more than $5,000 a month not including employee salaries to run her business.

"How long can we sustain these expenses before closing our doors forever? We are about to be in month three of no income. I'm a small business owner with two kids at home, a mortgage, etc. By no means am I looking for pity. We are surviving. I'm just not sure how much longer we can," Colangelo said.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

Colangelo says her "clients are like family to me." And was compelled to open after receiving numerous calls from clients pleading for her to help them. In particular she had a 77-year-old widow who called her crying.

"When she comes into the salon she is always dressed to a 'T' and comes in once a week to get her hair done. She takes pride in the way she looks," Colangelo said.

The client said she was depressed and would cry every time she saw herself in a mirror.

Colangelo said she lost sleep over it and that is what put her "over the edge" to open up. She agreed to cut hair outside while wearing masks and gloves.

When Colangelo set everything up, she thought why not just go public. She announced on her salon's Facebook page that she would be open on May 23. Her business and cell phone went nuts.

"The phone was ringing off the hook!" Colangelo said.

Police Shut Down

Branchburg Police came to shut her down explaining they were getting calls from residents reporting her.

When police arrived one customer Lee Iskowitz was getting a hair cut and when police warned him that he could be fined $1,000 for the hair cut he continued to get it done.

"I told them, I do not care about [Murphy's] order, shutting down small business while every large store is open. [The police officer] told me this will be your most expensive haircut, I said that's fine, I will deal with it later," Iskowitz wrote on a GoFundMe he later set up for Colangelo to help cover her citation fees. To donate to the GoFundMe click here.

Colangelo noted that despite being cited the police were very respectful and sympathetic to her situation and were just following orders.

"I have nothing but respect and kind thoughts regarding the Branchburg Police Department. They were following orders from the governor and did their job with nothing less than respect and empathy for all small businesses," Colangelo said.

Colangelo says she is fed up with the shut down on small businesses.

"I'm sick of it. …Other states have salons open and they are practicing safe techniques," Colangelo said.

She pointed to her recent trip to Lowes in Hillsborough where it was so packed that people couldn't find a parking spot.

"This is allowed but I'm not allowed to cut one person's hair in our chair?" Colangelo said. "Is [Murphy] trying to put small businesses out of business? It's a shame."

• Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know In May

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.