Meet Chris Tran and KP Phan, owners of Polished Nail spa. Both born in Vietnam, but long time Atlanta residents, they are a fun and hardworking couple.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Tell us about yourselves. | I was born in Vietnam and have been in Atlanta for a little over 30 years. I have two kids- ages 8 & 10. (Chris) I was also born in Vietnam and have been here 22 years. Previously I lived in Spartanburg, South Carolina and I moved to Atlanta 11 years ago. (KP) We met through the business. Our business is a close-knit community where everybody knows each other. |
| How long have you worked in Brookhaven? | I (Chris) have owned Polished for 11 years now. I chose Brookhaven because I kept driving by this complex that didn’t have a nail salon, but it needed one. There had been nothing available at the time, and then one day I drove by and a book store had closed. I walked in the empty store, called the agent (he didn’t know the book store was closed), and the rest is history. I really just lucked out. |
| What inspired you or led you to your career? | I grew up in the nail business as a kid because my Mom had a salon for many years. At first I was an accountant and it was going to take a long time to break through the many ceilings that exist. I had worked for my mom in her salon and this was what I knew, so I just decided to go for it. I couldn’t even tell my mom at first because I knew she didn’t want me to get into the same business. She wanted me to do something that didn’t have such long hours and she wanted me to use my college degree. She didn’t speak to me for months, but she finally came around the day before we opened Polished, and she accepted my invitation to bless my new business. At the time, nails were typically an extension of hair salons, so there were not many true nail salons in Brookhaven. It wasn’t like it is now where there is a nail place in every shopping center. My mom recently retired, so I bought her salon just over a year ago that she had owned for 27 years in Decatur. This is now our second Polished Nails location. |
| What is your favorite restaurant in Brookhaven, and what do you love there? | I like Valenza a lot (Chris). Avelinos is my favorite. I crave that place almost weekly! (KP). |
| If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why? | I wouldn’t come home. If I won the lottery I wouldn’t buy anything- just a plane ticket and I’d go and go. I feel like everyone should live in another country for at least 6 months at some point in your life because when you learn about other people, you learn a lot about yourself. |
| What is your favorite movie? | I’m a sucker for Gladiator (Chris). It’s a classic to me. I really like romantic comedy so I would say The Holiday (KP). |
| What is your favorite music/band? | I’m an old school kind of guy and I like Led Zeppelin a lot (Chris). I love Maroon 5. (KP). I’m a closet Levine guy. (Chris) |
| Favorite show to binge watch? | Game of Thrones. |
| What is something on your bucket list? | To keep traveling. Also, buying a house. We want to be closer to Brookhaven, but right now we need our family to help with the kids, so we’re not quite ready. |
| What is your favorite thing or something unique about Brookhaven? | The diversity of people, and it’s just so young and vibrant. We were lucky enough to be here at the right time, and Brookhaven has changed so much and now it’s just a super cool place to be. |
| What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? | A lot of people still don’t know that we are married. KP is a great cook with Vietnamese cuisine as her specialty. |
| What three words come to mind when you think of the word home? | Quiet, peaceful, and cozy. |
