Floral display images are featured along the south end wall of the new Bella Salon Suites in Palos Hills. Sami Khalil came up with idea of the design for the artwork. The grand opening for the salon was held November 12. (Photos by Joe Boyle)
New Palos Hills salon adds to Harlem Avenue rejuvenation
By Joe Boyle
The view of empty businesses along Harlem Avenue had frustrated Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett over the years.
But when it appeared the most bleak, Kalid Baste and a group of relatives entered stating that they can rejuvenate the area just south of 103rd and Harlem and make it a destination point.
Baste and several other relatives, who also serve as owners, celebrated the grand opening for Bella Salon Suites, 10544 S. Harlem Ave., on Saturday morning. The new salon provides a wide range of services for women ranging from massage therapy, facials, microblading and waxings.
It is a great day, Baste said.
“Of course, we have been working on this for two years,” said Baste, a Bridgeview resident. “We wanted this salon to be special. Usually, you have 15 to 20 rooms. We now have 41.”
Another owner, Haney Khalil, said there are several salons in the southwest suburbs, including Orland Park. However, he said that Bella Salon Suites offers more services and is unique because of its size.
Bennett had been observing the construction work for the salon and was eager to tour the facility. The mayor did admit he was surprised at the size of the building.
“To have this here and to see this street transformed is unbelievable,” Bennett said. “They have so much room here and they have plenty of parking. It’s a great day, absolutely.”
Baste and the owners said they wanted to attract the best stylists and technicians to care for women.
“They bring their own chairs,” Baste said. “It is a great opportunity. They can come in here and be their own boss. They can come in here and bring their clients.”
The salon also offers wash machines and dryers to improve the experience of coming to Bella Salon Suites.
Visitors to the salon will notice a giant mural at the south end of the building. The colorful images of a floral display with a butterfly also features the words, “Hello Beautiful.”
“It was my brother Sami’s idea to do this,” said Khalil, an Orland Park resident. “It took about a week to complete it.”
“Well, yes, I came up with the idea. It was my design but I didn’t actually do it. Maybe I should have said I did do it,” Sami Kahlil said with a laugh.
Baste said Bella Salon Suites stands out because professionals can control their schedules and customize their suites to cater to their clients. The mini-suites allow beauty professionals from all types of industries to rent their small salon, spa, or shop, the owners said.
Khouri Hughes, a massage therapist from the south suburbs, said the opportunity to have a suite at the new salon is a huge benefit.
“You want to have somewhere where I can bring in my personal clients,” Hughes said. “I just like that we can bring them in here. Plus, we also have wash machines and dryers.”
Baste added that the suites allow for privacy and tools needed for the professionals to succeed.
The average size of a salon suite is 12 x 14. However, the owners said if the space is too small it can be expanded to fit the needs of the professional. Each suite is equipped to go. Professionals just have to bring in their chairs and can begin operating their businesses.
Professionals will be required to have a state license to rent a suite. Professionals will need to provide a copy of the license before renting a suite.
Every Bella Salon Suite is fully enclosed, sound-dampening and includes premium fixtures, Baste said. The facility is also secure with 24-hour camera surveillance and an autolocking front door, according to Baste.
Bennett is pleased with the salon but is also appreciative of the work that Baste and other owners have put in to develop the area.
“It is hard to believe that it was just four years ago that there was nothing at this location,” Bennett said before the ribbon-cutting. “We appreciate everything Kal has done and everyone else he knows who have helped. We are very grateful.”
Baste also thanked Bennett, Palos Hills aldermen and other city officials who have assisted in getting the projects off the ground.
Back in May of 2019, Baste and his associates held another ribbon-cutting ceremony with the opening of their Wet Spot Car Wash that is located next door to the Bella Salon Suites. The state-of-the-art car wash convinced Bennett that Baste and the other owners are committed in the development of the once desolate area of Harlem Avenue.
Beauty professionals who would like to rent a suite at the Bella Salon Suites can call or text 708-673-6301 or email info@mybellasalon.com.
Local News
‘A man of honor, a beacon of kindness’
Spread the love. Chicago weeps for Officer Luis Huesca . By Tim Hadac People across the Southwest Side shed tears earlier this week, as throngs of police officers and other filled the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel at 77th and Western for a funeral Mass for CPD Officer Luis M. Huesca. Officer Huesca was…
Archer Manor Little League starts its 2024 season
Spread the love. Sunny skies and mild temperatures greeted the boys and girls, moms and dads, umpires and coaches, and everyone else participating in Archer Manor Little League’s Opening Day parade and ceremonies at Archer Park. Since 1952, AMLL has provided athletic opportunities for thousands of boys and girls in Archer Heights, West Elsdon, Central…
Dread over car drifters on streets
Spread the love. Reckless drivers take over SW Side intersections . By Tim Hadac At the April meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, a police officer admitted that the drag racing/drifting phenomenon seen and heard in the Midway area in recent years “probably will increase, but we hope not.” The admission was triggered by…
Don’t raise pilots’ retirement age, García says
Spread the love. From staff reports U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th), senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, recently led a letter joined by 121 Members of Congress urging House Democratic leadership to reject any changes to the pilot retirement age in a final version of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill.…
CTA launches ‘chat’ feature on website
Spread the love. From staff reports Artificial Intelligence has made another step forward at the Chicago Transit Authority. CTA officials recently launched the “Chat with CTA” chatbot, a new virtual automated service featured on transitchicago.com. The communication tool allows riders to report issues, provide feedback and receive answers in real-time. Additionally, it provides the CTA with customer…
New effort to aid kids with disabilities
Spread the love. From staff reports A new grant program aimed at providing financial assistance to families of children with disabilities was launched recently by Mayor Brandon Johnson, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services. Children with disabilities is a population disproportionately affected by the pandemic,…
Dart warns of Sheriff’s Office imposters
Spread the love. From staff reports Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart recently alerted the public of an uptick in telephone and email phishing scams in which scammers identify themselves as a Sheriff’s Office employee in an attempt to defraud victims. Scammers are using the actual names and respective titles of Sheriff’s Office employees to…
It’s ‘Batter up!’ time in West Lawn
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . It must be May because baseball season is here. I recently reported on the West Lawn Little League, whose 2024 season is now underway. Another West Lawn youth athletic association is Midway Baseball Softball Association. Their teams…
Cinco de Mayo, here we come
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . It’s time to bring out the Corona, Tecate, Modelo or Dos Equis, along with a few limes. Heck, maybe even bring out the Patrón! It is Cinco de Mayo this Sunday, translated to…
Softball | Jocelyn Hovanec scores two runs, Ks 12 in Chicago Christian win
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Chicago Christian is working to find its footing in the inaugural season of the Chicagoland Christian Conference. The Knights entered this week 6-8 overall and 4-6 in the CCC, putting them in fifth place with just two conference games to play among their final seven regular-season contests. The Knights…
Neighbors
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…
Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans
By PETER HANCOCK and JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Immigrant rights advocates on Friday continued to push for one of their top budget priorities: full funding for state-run health care programs that benefit noncitizens, regardless of their immigration status. Those programs offer health coverage for low-income individuals who would otherwise qualify for…
As state continues to inventory lead pipes, full replacement deadlines are decades away
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com Lead pipes in public water systems and drinking fixtures have been banned in new construction since 1986, when Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, but they are still in use across the U.S. and in Illinois. The presence of lead pipes has persisted due in part to…
Capitol Briefs: State unveils report on racial disparities among homeless populations
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Tackling homelessness requires addressing racial injustice, according to a new report commissioned by the state’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. The report found that Black people are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than white people. Remedying this disparity, according to the report, would require “long-term…
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…