Parsippany Salon Owners Set Reopen Date Despite COVID-19 Shutdown

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Nick Mirabella and George Verdis say they will reopen their salon June 1 despite Gov. Phil Murphy's executive order that prohibits it.

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The Brick and Mirror Beauty Bar in Parsippany closed March 19 saying that they were doing so to comply with Murphy’s mandate non-essential businesses close. Two months later they are changing their tune and spoke to CNN.

The co-owners told CNN Tuesday night that the decision to reopen was about helping their staff.

"What it comes down to is we have families to feed and our employees have families to feed," George Verdis said. "At the end of the day we were told by Gov. Murphy we were going to be 15 days, this was in March, then it went to 15 more days and then 30. There obviously isn't a plan from his end to open up."

Last week, Murphy released "hard dates" and specifics on New Jersey's plans to reopen its economy during the coronavirus crisis. And he was expected to provide more details over the course of the month, and into June. Murphy provided perhaps his most concrete reopening plan yet on Monday, May 18, offering a "blueprint" for what businesses and activities will soon be able to resume and when. Read more: Gov. Murphy: Here's What Will Reopen Next Amid NJ Coronavirus

The salon tried to make a go of it during the lockdown, engaging with their customers on social media and offering tips and advice on quarantine fads.

For his part, Mirabella, told NJ101.5 he doesn't want to become a spectacle, with people waving flags or signs or posting a copy of the constitution in the window, like the gym in Bellmawr. He told the radio station he wants to peacefully reopen as safely as possible, and would consider delaying it further if needed.

“If there’s other guidelines we have to get equipment for or the proper solution to sanitize with, we’ll be on hold until that comes in, but as of June 1, I don’t see it being difficult to find everything we need to keep things sanitary,” Mirabella said in the report.

Their position has its share of detractors, and many have taken to the internet to express them, review bombing the establishment on Google.

"Apparently people want to leave us a 1 star review on Google for our salon based on our opinion on Fox or CNN," the owners posted to social media. "If any of you have time today please stop by our google page and balance it out with some 5 starts to show your support."

Parsippany Police Chief Andrew Miller told the Daily Record that he has drafted a letter to the salon to reach out in advance of its June 1 opening that will explain that police "are duty-bound to advise that the action of reopening your business to the public would constitute a violation of Executive Order #107."

Any violations of the executive order would be sent up the chain to the office of Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. Several areas businesses have already been cited for operating in violation of the order including a Parsippany dog groomer and a Chester pool store owner.

The salon is located in an active mall complex that contains a Staples, a ShopRite and a Home Depot. Mirabella told WCBS Radio that when they do open, there will be of health protocols and stations will be disinfected after use.

"We're going to limit the capacity at the salon. So if you want to bring your friend, you can't bring your friend,” Mirabella said in the report. “Only the people who are getting their hair done are going to be allowed in the salon. We're going to take your temperature as soon as you come through the door.”

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