Tolisano and spouse Jay have three My Salon Suite locations in Fairfield, Shelton and Stamford, which have maxed out their available capacity leasing suites to just over 80 tenants across the three locations. All saw their businesses upended by Gov. Ned Lamont’s executive order for salons to close March 20, with the order not lifted until early June and rules governing sanitizing salons and limited client visitations.
That left the Tolisanos scrambling to ready their suites for the reopening, even as they waived rent for their tenants who are solo entrepreneurs spanning hair and beauty services, some with limited track records that put them at the back of the line for some business assistance programs that have emerged in the wake of the pandemic.
“We needed to … make sure that these professionals were not responsible for rent during the shutdown, because our goal is to get everyone back in — and make sure they get back without having debt hanging over their heads,” Tolisano said. “Our business wouldn’t be possible without them; their business wouldn’t be possible without us. It’s a … symbiotic relationship.”
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