Building a dream: Soon to open Eva’s Nail Bar is a long time dream come true for owner and operator Eva Pi

By Faith Hatton, posted Oct 10, 2024 on BizFayetteville.com

The 5,500 square-foot building was previously a carwash and had to be completely renovated. Featuring a bright, elegant
interior, everything in the shop has been custom made to fit Eva’s vision. Photo by GFBJ.

A perfectly pink paint job is one of the final touches being done as renovations conclude on Eva’s Nail Bar, a new nail salon experience currently under construction on Raeford Road.

Husband and wife team, Jerry and Eva Pi are the couple bringing the nail bar to life, working together to fully renovate a 5,500 square-foot building that was previously a car wash.

With a bright, elegantly designed interior, the building was gutted before undergoing a full renovation to include a full line of pedicure chairs, custom built nail station surfaces and a welcoming lobby and reception area, the space is almost complete.

The building’s new look is all the vision of Eva Pi, who has more than a decade of experience as a nail technician.

“I did a booth rental for seven years, so that was a small business for myself and before, I was manager in a nail shop and that’s how I know what I need to buy,” shared Eva. “From the tables to everything, I went online and researched and had it custom made. I told people my ideas and they helped me.”

The Pis first bought the building on July 1, 2022 and began construction a little over six months ago. According to her website, Eva’s Nail Bar will be a full service salon “where beauty meets precision in a cozy, clean environment.” Offered services will include pedicures, nail enhancements, massages, lash and brow services, waxing services and even kid services for ages two to 10 years old.

An immigrant and single mother from Vietnam, Eva spent time in California and New Jersey before coming to Fayetteville in 2014 where she would later meet her husband Jerry. Now celebrating 10 years in the area, she shared that it was through the friendships she gained from attending church at Village Baptist Church and one very friendly customer that helped her become stronger and believe in herself.

“I really like Fayetteville because of the people. I made this wonderful friend, her name is Leigh O’ Conner, she’d come to do her nails, and she’s very friendly and she’d take me to church. And before I’d say ‘No, I don’t have time for myself or my family, I don’t know English, what would I go to church for?’ But she spent time with me, she’d read the Bible one by one, she’d teach me and after I believed, ‘Ok the people here will be open,’” shared Eva. “I have so many friends who have helped me. I’m blessed for that, they teach me not just about language, but they teach me about life.”

Plans are in place to move into the building on Oct. 14-15 to review the space before holding a grand opening planned for mid October. Eva shared that she is grateful for her customers who support her and inspire her.

“I want the decorations to look good before the grand opening. I have almost 200 customers, so when my customers come they’ll tell me their ideas. I really love Fayetteville because we work with teamwork, they will help me. They’ll give me more ideas and we want the grand opening to look perfect,” said Eva.

The Pis have been married for five years and have worked together to make the business happen. Jerry, who is a retired Veteran following 30 years of service, handles the engineering and contracting portion of renovations, and Eva brings her expertise.

Husband and wife team Jerry (left) and Eva Pi (right) are working together to make
this dream a reality. Jerry has handled the contracting portion of the business
and Eva brings her industry expertise.

“I just think it's pretty brave of her to start something like this. I wouldn’t know where to start. Her customers have become her friends,” shared Jerry. “I just think it's amazing. I’ve lived in the United States way longer than she has, 40 some years, I wasn't born here. But for her, to migrate over here, as a woman too, and have the desire and want to do this and actually go through with it, I think that's pretty powerful. Not everybody that comes to America is able to do something like that.”

“I want to show the young people around here; I came to the United States, and I was a single mom. I brought my son here and I didn’t know English, I didn’t have credit, no money or anything, but I had my dream. So that’s what I’d like to say to the people that if you dream a big dream and you work on it, if I can do it, you can do it,” shared Eva.

Eva’s Nail Salon will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For more information, go online to www.evasnailbarnc.com and find her on Facebook at Eva’s Nail Bar for the latest updates and announcements.

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