Hillsborough’s Longtime Topline Nails Set for Fresh Start After Devastating Fire Forced Relocation
A well-known family-owned nail salon in Hillsborough is preparing to welcome customers again after a devastating fire earlier this year brought an unexpected pause to a business that had been serving the local community for more than three decades. The reopening marks an important milestone for the family behind Topline Nails, who chose to rebuild rather than walk away from the business their mother spent years creating.
The salon is scheduled to celebrate its grand reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 3 at its new location inside The Shoppes at Woods Tavern, situated at the intersection of Amwell Road and Route 206 in Hillsborough, New Jersey. The business has moved into a newly leased 1,200-square-foot space designed to continue serving long-time clients while also welcoming new customers.
The relocation comes months after a January fire destroyed the salon’s original location on Route 206. The blaze left the business unable to operate and resulted in the loss of the salon and its equipment. For many local residents, the closure marked the temporary loss of a familiar neighbourhood business that had become part of the community over the years.
Topline Nails was founded and operated by Lisa Nguyen, who spent more than 32 years building the salon into a trusted destination for nail care and customer service. Throughout those years, the business earned a loyal customer base by focusing on quality treatments, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere that encouraged many clients to return again and again.
Rather than allowing the family business to end after the fire, Nguyen’s daughters, Truc Luu and Tram Thompson, decided to continue their mother’s legacy by establishing Topline Nails Hillsborough, LLC. Their decision reflects both a commitment to preserving the business and a desire to continue serving the community that supported their family for decades.
According to the family, reopening the salon is about much more than opening a new shopfront. It represents the continuation of years of dedication, hard work, and relationships built with customers throughout Hillsborough. The owners say the new location allows them to honour their mother’s accomplishments while creating a modern space where clients can continue enjoying the services they have come to expect.
The family also expressed gratitude for the encouragement they received following the fire. They said customers, neighbours, and members of the Hillsborough community offered support during one of the most challenging periods in the business’s history. That response reinforced their determination to remain in the township instead of relocating elsewhere.
The new salon will continue emphasising personalised customer care, professional nail services, and a comfortable environment designed to make visitors feel at home. The owners believe maintaining the same welcoming atmosphere that customers remember is just as important as offering an updated location.
The Shoppes at Woods Tavern, where the salon is reopening, is a mixed office and retail development located in Hillsborough’s downtown business district. Its central location provides convenient access for existing clients while increasing visibility for potential new customers. The shopping centre is positioned along one of the township’s busiest commercial corridors, making it an attractive destination for local businesses.
Representatives of Larken Associates, the company that owns the shopping centre, welcomed Topline Nails to the property and praised the family’s commitment to rebuilding after the fire. Company officials noted that, as a family-owned organisation themselves, they appreciate the resilience shown by the Nguyen family and are pleased the business will remain part of the Hillsborough community.
The reopening reflects a broader story seen in many communities, where small family-owned businesses overcome unexpected setbacks through determination and local support. While the January fire caused significant disruption, the family’s decision to reopen demonstrates how established local businesses can recover with the backing of loyal customers and community partners.
As preparations continue for the August reopening, many long-time clients are expected to return to the salon they have supported for years. For the Nguyen family, the new location represents both a fresh beginning and the continuation of a business built on decades of trust, service, and strong community connections.
Sources
- MyCentralJersey
- Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
- Larken Associate
