COURIER L M BR B G IFE, FEB. 8–14, 2019 37
Pilo Arts, the award-winning
hair salon and spa, is
celebrating its 40th anniversary!
The Bay Ridge institution
thrives, having survived five
recessions, the aftermath of
9-11, the impact of Hurricanes
Irene and Sandy, and everything
else that has happened
over the last four decades.
In 1999, Pilo Arts was
granted admission into Intercoiffure,
the world’s elite organization
for salons. No other
salon in Brooklyn can make
that claim. It was recognized
as one of the top 200 U.S. salons
by Salon Today, and has
expanded into the tri-state
area, a feat that only a handful
of salons and spas have accomplished.
In addition, it has
been ranked as one of the Top
5 Color Salons in the State of
New York for years — and
there are over 16,000 of salons
in New York.
The long list of professional
accolades Pilo Arts has
earned can go on and on —
but this recognition only tells
part of Pilo Arts’ story.
The shop is a wonderful
Bay Ridge neighbor — it is the
recipient of 69 communitybased
awards, and its philanthropic
efforts have assisted
the fund-raising efforts of
countless charities and organizations.
In fact, Pilo Arts
says it never refuses any request
that comes from a charity
or a civic organization.
They contribute to them all.
Pilo Arts’ CEO, Jude La-
Barca, says he believes “servant
leadership” best describes
the culture of the
business, and quotes Robert
Greenleaf, who coined the
phrase in 1970.
“He believed great leaders
act as servants and make the
needs of others — including
employees, customers, and
community — their first priority,”
LaBarca says.
This is certainly true of
Pilo Arts. For more than a decade,
it has carved out time to
train and educate every one
of its employees. Some of this
education includes offering
advanced avant-garde color
education, by experts in the
field, to all of its stylists each
month, right on the premises.
The knowledge the employees
gain contributes to their personal
success. This, in turn,
is instrumental to the success
of the business.
The shop’s founders, Elena
Solitario and Paul Pastore,
have been outstanding members
of Intercoiffure since
1999. Color director Don Orlando
is a member of the exclusive
American Board of
Certified Hair Colorists. The
shop uses only color products
of the highest caliber.
But Pilo Arts is never
content to rest on its reputation.
Each year it strives
to improve, and to demonstrate
its appreciation to its
customers, its staff, and the
community.
What’s in store for the future?
LaBarca says, “My next
goal is to celebrate our 50th
anniversary with the opening
of a second location in Staten
Island.”
Pilo Arts Salon and Spa
8412 Third Ave. between 84th
and 85th streets in Bay Ridge,
(718) 748–7411, www.piloarts.
com. Open Wednesdays and
Thursdays, 10 am–8 pm; Fridays,
9 am–8 pm; Saturdays
8:30 am–6 pm; and Sundays, 9
am–4 pm.
BUS INES S , B ROOKLYN S T Y LE
Pilo Arts Salon improving year after year
/www.piloarts
/www.piloarts