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Everybody's Business

The artist and the aesthetician

Pepi's Hair Salon is relocating, and one of its aestheticians is leaving to open a spa, which will double as an art gallery.

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published January 6, 2006

Pepi's Hair Salon's upcoming move will be a win-loss-win situation. The salon will gain a little space but will lose an aesthetician, who in turn will open her own day spa and art gallery.

Pepi's, which rents space in the Keller Williams Real Estate building at 3502 Henderson Blvd., will move a couple of blocks south to 3328 Henderson Blvd., formerly the home of Salon South Tampa. Keller Williams will take over Pepi's space.

Business owner Pepi Soler said she plans to open her new salon on Tuesday. She'll have space for a nail room and two more hairstylists (she currently has four). She might eventually add a massage therapist and an aesthetician.

Pepi's longtime aesthetician Sheila Chorniak is leaving to open Le Chateau Day Spa Salon and Gallery in mid January at 4037 W Kennedy Blvd., a few blocks east of Lois Avenue. Le Chateau will be just like it sounds - a day spa that exhibits art.

Chorniak is opening the spa/gallery to give her daughter, Leah, a place to show her art and to add another day spa to the South Tampa scene. Leah Chorniak, who until recently worked as a Jehovah's Witness missionary in South and Central America, has been painting for 21/2 years. The self-taught artist paints on linen from Bolivia, using skills she adopted while doing missionary work.

Leah has already enjoyed some success, showing her work in several local art shows and winning a second place prize at the Lutz Arts and Crafts Festival in December.

Her works will be accented by Le Chateau's red and gold silk drapes and tapestries, Queen Anne furniture and chandelier. Sheila will perform microderm abrasions, acid peels, Brazilian body wraps and bikini waxes and facials. Leah will do eyelash extensions and teach makeup classes.

Six hairdressers and one or two nail technicians will round out Le Chateau's staff.

Meanwhile, Pepi Soler is looking for hairdressers, a massage therapist and an aesthetician. Interested? Call her at 335-0006.

CUBAN ART LANDS ON SEVENTH: His friends call him Picasso. Veteran Ybor City gallery owner Brad Cooper calls his work "magic realism."

Now you can call on painter Carlos Manuel Soto at his new studio, which opened Dec. 16 at 15211/2 E Seventh Ave., above King Corona Cigars. Just be sure you call him first at 900-4281. As is the case with most art studios, the hours can be irregular. And brush up on your Spanish. Soto speaks little English.

Soto, a native of Havana, moved to Tampa in 2001. But he's retained his native culture and kept it free from American influences, said Cooper, who exhibits a few of Soto's works.

"American art has become so homogenized and derivative, but he's coming from a genuine humanistic approach," Cooper said. "This guy has a real authenticity to his work."

OLD BOOK STORE REBORN: After 21 years in North Tampa, Tampa Antiquarian Books and Collectibles is taking on a new life with a new owner.

Stephanie Beckel bought the business, at 6303 N Armenia Ave., and moved it to 6116 N Central Ave. in Old Seminole Heights on Dec. 15.

The bookstore occupies two storefronts in an early 20th-century commercial building. In early 2005 a coffee shop tried to open in the same spot but failed, mainly because of parking issues. That hasn't been the case this time around, judging by the reception Beckel says she has received from neighbors.

"They've welcomed me with open arms," she said. "The neighborhood itself has an appreciation of local independent businesses."

Tampa Antiquarian specializes in old, rare and out-of-print books, cards and other collectibles. Beckel estimates she has 40,000 titles in a wide range of subjects.

Beckel grew up in Lutz and recently returned from a stint in Colorado.

Hours are tentatively 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Call 234-0100.

- Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3394, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com

[Last modified January 5, 2006, 08:51:07]