MEMBER OF THE MONTH: Tara Acosta

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Hi everyone. My name is Tara Acosta.  I am the owner of Sulimay’s Salon & Barber Studios in Fairmount and Manayunk and author of The Street Smart Side of Business. 

As a Philly Native, I graduated from Hallahan in ‘95 shifting into Jean Madeline Cosmetology School right after high school.  I then joined my dad in his barbershop, and at that time we took an old school Philly barbershop into a unisex hair studio.  Talk about a girl in a man’s world, I invaded their barbershop.  That was an adventure! We worked side by side together for 20 wonderful and entertaining years.   

In 2014 I opened Sulimay’s Hair Studio in Manayunk.  In 2019 I opened Sulimay’s Salon and Barber Studio located in Fairmount / Art Museum Area here in the Center City District.  I thought about rebranding, but what my father and I had was so special and I decided to keep his legacy going, so in 2023 we celebrated 60 years of Sulimay’s.   

In addition to life as a business owner and hairstylist I am also a Real Estate Sales Agent.  I find myself utilizing my network and matching clients with realtors in their desired niche market. This has been a successful practice for me pertaining to both commercial and residential.  

The Street Smart Side of Business is a book that I published a few years back.  It’s a guide book focused on  small business ownership and the importance of forward thinking.  It’s an easy read filled with short stories about entrepreneurship. I followed it up with The Street Smart Side of Business Podcast which focuses on entrepreneurs of all different industries. They share their insight and experiences in business.  I’m hoping to pick that back up in the near future.   

Saving the best part for last. I am a mom of three beautiful humans, Cianna (whom I now work with at SULIMAY’S Fairmount studio), Anthony and Jaxon. And I must shout out our two fur baby loves, Henry our Boxer and Blue our Huskey. My husband Mike is an attorney and entrepreneur as well, so together business is kind of our thing.  Working out, yoga, listening to a good play list or live music, beach runs at the shore, traveling and cheering on my kids at their sports are my hobbies, Not to mention going out for dinner and dancing on occasion.   Well that’s me a very long winded nutshell!  

Q&A with Tara:

It’s Sunday at 10 AM. Where are you?
At 10am on a Sunday, you’ll likely catch me just getting back from the gym or Yoga and sparking up the stove to cook Sunday breakfast with my family.  

What is your favorite place you have traveled to?
It’s hard to choose a favorite place that I have traveled to because I love experiencing different cultures. But if I must, Paris is it.  The architecture, food scene, art scene, fashion and overall vibrancy of the city is incredible.  Yet a beach in Jamaica with people reminding me  “no worries” is a beautiful thing as well.  

What is something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet?
Something that I have always wanted to do but haven’t done yet is skydiving.  My dad was a paratrooper in the 82nd airborne division of the US Army, and working next to him for 20 years hearing him share his jump stories has always intrigued me.  But as a mom, I always chickened out. 

What was your first job?
My first job was as a file clerk at a law firm in Two Penn Center.  After school at Hallahan, I would walk to the office and right to the file room.  

What is a non-profit that you support? Other than CCBA?
Legacy of Hope based out of Philly is a local charity that I work with.  They are amazing in what they do. 

 

Sulimay’s Salon & Barber Studio (Fairmount)
2333 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia Pa 19130
215-763-4448
Facebook @Sulimay’s Salon & Barber Studio 

Sulimay’s Studio on Main (Manayunk)
4227 Main Street, Philadelphia Pa 19127 
267-437-3616
Facebook @Sulimay’s Studio on Main