Business Profile: Eugene’s Hair Salon, Yorktown
Croton-on-Hudson resident Eugene Costella was an art major in college. Costella, a Yorktown native, did pursue art as a career, but his profession is creative nonetheless.
Costella is the owner and a stylist at Eugene’s Hair Salon in Yorktown, which has been open for 18 years. He decided to open up his own salon after working in his family’s hair styling business for several years.
He explained one reason why he chose to open his business on Crompond Road, which is close to where his family’s salon was located. “It was for rent and it had been a salon so I upgraded it,” he said
One secret to his success is his passion for hair styling, Costella said. “I’ve been in this business for almost 40 years,” Costella said. “After all these years I still like what I do.”
Eugene’s provides services for both men and women and Costella said he enjoys the social aspects of his job. “I like talking with people,” he said. “I like working with people. When somebody sits in my chair it’s just them and I. We can discuss anything, their hair, their life, whatever.”
Costella said he became interested in hair styling because his sister was a hair dresser. “She had a young daughter and I would babysit for her on the weekends. So I would go and pick up my sister with my niece,” he said. “I liked the whole atmosphere of the salon.”
A variety of services are provided at Eugene’s. Costella is assisted by his staff, including Mahopac resident Rachael Courtney, who is responsible for such services as hair straightening and highlighting
Among his goals for his business are “get new people to come in to try things. To get my clients who are established to try different things. You always try to be current,” Costella said. In an effort to stay current, Costella said he reads fashion magazines, go to shows and watch television to see hair styling trends of the stars.
“Trying to make people happy, make people comfortable in here – those are my goals,” Costella emphasized.
Costella said he has a philosophy for this business. “We’re a small salon, but we do big things,” he said.
Aside from his work on his clients’ hair, Costella said his business provides another creative outlet for him – his windows. “We have different windows for every season. I’m kind of known for them,” he said proudly.
The current window has been decorated to resemble an aquarium for the summer. “This is one of my better ones,” Costella said.
Eugene’s Hair Salon is located at2012 Crompond Rd. in Yorktown. For more information, call 914-245-677. It is open on Wednesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
