POURAN AND KIA ESHGHI: A Great American Success Story BY FRED CHERNOW WHY DID YOU LEAVE IRAN? We were doing well and had a loving family and friends in Iran, yet we yearned for more. We felt restricted and longed for the promised freedom of expression America offered. Pouran came to the United States first in 1963, settling in New York, and Kia followed a year later. We were a young artistic couple, rich on dreams, but with very little money in our pockets. We took a variety of jobs before opening our own businesses. The most interesting early jobs was when we worked in the 1964 World’s Fair in Queens at the Pavilion, which introduced the Belgian Waffle. Eventually, Pouran began working at a beauty salon, while Kia did a variety of jobs, including working in a factory, heading up window display design, furniture making and shopping center displays. He continued his passion for painting and sculpture in the evening during whatever spare time he could find. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? We saved enough to buy our first home in Merrick and worked hard at improving our communication skills in English. Pouran was hired as a colorist by the well respected Cover Girl Salon in Merrick, where she grew a loyal client base. Kia continued performing. Soon, with a group of Persian musicians, he was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall to a sold-out audience. Next, he opened his own art gallery in Great Neck, called Gallery Bond Street. His own painting interests developed in the direction of more modern large scale abstract pieces. WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO NORTH SHORE TOWERS? Pouran’s reputation grew at Cover Girl Salon. She came to the attention of the Jon Megaris Salon in the newly opened North Shore Towers. They hired her as their lead colorist. Later, the salon was offered for sale. The idea of having her own salon appealed to Pouran and so, Pouran & Co. was born. “I don’t see exploring beauty as skin deep. I see it as deeply personal, and as a vehicle for confidence, which touches people’s everyday lives. I want clients to walk out of my shop uplifted and feeling fabulous.” After a successful start in the salon, Pouran created the Med Spa to make clients feel as good as they look through touch therapies, such as Swedish massage and facials. Next, I realized what you wear is an expression of how you feel and so I opened the Boutique. During my time as an actress, costuming played a huge role in getting into the character. I love dressing women for the various roles they play in their lives. These businesses are not a solo endeavor. Every detail of the three shops is carefully tended to by husband, Kia. The importance of his influence can be seen in the interior design, construction, and artistic choices. He enjoyed a solo show of his art work at the Queens Museum in 2009, where he also performed on the Zarb for the standing room only crowd on Kia and Pouran opening night. Recently, Pouran was honored as a Long Island Power Woman in Business. Amazed at the number of friends, family, and clients, which attended, Kia explained, “She does so many amazing things, they are all in awe of her, as I am.” WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR LEISURE ACTIVITIES? I love to cook, especially for my family, which includes three children and two grandchildren. There is no better way to the heart than a good Persian meal. We spend time in our Building #1 apartment and most weekends in our Hamptons home. “I gather fresh herbs and vegetables from my garden, and without a recipe, I whip up dishes, which delight the senses, while Kia paints in his studio. Koo Koo is a favorite dish, which combines fresh vegetables, herbs and eggs. I learned this as a child standing at my mother’s knee as she cooked. If I hadn’t gone into beauty culture, I probably would have opened a restaurant.” Pouran visits her family in Iran every year. Her energetic mother, Agdast Rajabipour, is 94-years-old and prides herself on her independence. Pouran smiles as she tells the story of how she has to call her mother when she forgets a relative’s phone number. In seconds her whip-smart mother comes up with the phone number and adds, “Pouran joon, (darling), I told you that number a hundred times.” Many people have come to America to pursue a dream, and such is the case with Pouran and Kia Eshghi. The couple first met in high school in Tehran, Iran, and went on to attend the same drama school. Honarhaye Zibe was a government supported school, which specialized in drama and the arts. Kia, who was classically trained in Zarb, a Persian drum, toured nationally and performed on stage, radio and screen. He was also classically trained in Persian miniatures by master painters of the form. Pouran was part of the theater group and starred in many theatrical productions while in Iran. Though still young, they married when Kia was serving in the army. 4 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ March 2017
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