Cali Nails
A Family Business Over 25 Years on Lake Street
Photo by Becca Dilley. Thuy “Tweety” Hoang and Ngan “Nonni” Hoang (left to right).
When asked what makes Cali Nails (121 W Lake) special, owner Ngan Hoang answers “It’s more than just a business. Our customers are more than just customers. They have become friends and family to us.”
Ngan Hoang grew up close to her family and continues to work closely with them. Especially her sister Thuy/Tweety and cousin Jane. They were all born in Cam Ranh, Vietnam before fleeing to a refugee camp in Malaysia and then relocating together to California. In 1994 they moved from California to Minneapolis.
Shortly after, Ngan’s mother, Kim and Aunt Lisa opened Cali Nails. Ngan says they picked the location because “there were no nail shops in the area [and] we loved the location because it was easy to get to by foot, car, or bus! The diversity on Lake Street made it feel like home.”
Ngan, also known as Nonni to the community, received formal nail technician training from the Minnesota School of Cosmetology. When her mother Kim and Aunt Lisa retired, she took over the family business and her sister Tweety joined. Ngan knows Cali Nails wouldn’t be operational without the support of the whole family.
“Cali Nails has been family owned for over 25 years. It’s more than just a business. Our customers are more than just customers. They have become friends and family to us.”
- Ngan Hoang, owner of Cali Nails
Like all nail salons, Cali Nails was forced to close their doors in the first few months of Covid-19. To support the family, they turned their energy into making masks for their church and community - which are now available on their Etsy shop, TwoSistersCollective.
After months of being closed, Nonni was prepping the salon to open the next day before joining in a peaceful protest after the murder of George Floyd. That same night, Cali Nails was vandalized and it was impossible to open the next day. The signs and walls were damaged along with supplies and furniture. The electricity was also tampered with, “but we are still standing” Nonni says with gratitude.
With funding from the Lake Street Council’s We Love Lake Street Recovery Grants, Ngan was able to replace the supplies that were damaged and fix the walls along with getting a brand new coat of paint. “It looks great”, she says, “words cannot express the gratitude that I feel for the kindness of the community and those that have donated to help small businesses. It means so much to us to be able to have hope after such a catastrophe.”
Cali Nails had always been a walk-in only salon but with Covid-19 and limited capacity due to damages, they have no choice but to become appointment only, “It feels so unfamiliar from our former procedures. I am still trying to find an appointment system that would work for our customers.” For now, people can reach out on their Instagram @calinailsmpls to get more service information and schedule an appointment.
Along with a few additional repairs and updates Nonni says Cali Nails hopes, “For another 25 years of being a part of the Lake Street, South Minneapolis community. We hope Lake Street continues to develop and grow. We hope we will be able to keep the cultural diversity along with the support for one another.”
“You can have whatever you like. If you can dream it. We can do it.”
- Ngan Hoang, owner of Cali Nails
