Owner Lori Pino recounts the 30-year history of Amal Niccoli salon.

By Jeffrey Shwom

Long-time hair and skin care salon owner Lori Pino celebrates her 30-year anniversary in the heart of Ball Square and almost 40 years operating in Somerville, with no plans to close her shop, Amal Niccoli, anytime soon.

The business, which first opened as a hair salon in 1985 on Boston Ave., expanded to other health and self-care services over the years, and now that she has some “new blood,” Lori is not “quitting them now!” A 1980 Somerville High graduate and lifelong learner, Lori operates Amal Niccoli and KenkoDo Clinic, an acupuncture, massage, and skin care clinic she opened right next door twelve years ago. When we caught up with her over the phone, she was traveling with her acupuncturist, Estella, to “SMAC” Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification program  for acupuncture in Virginia. Lori’s interest in health and beauty keeps going forward.

Lori credits the success of the businesses to the “longevity” and “consistency” of her employees. “You keep the people and they stay. You are always building your clientele, they want to see the same faces. It is like ‘coming to visit’. You have to keep people happy.”

Amal Niccoli owner Lori Pino. — Photo courtesy of Amal Niccoli

Most of her long-term staff are from the area and have worked at her shop for over ten years. Recently, she succeeded in bringing on two recent hires and was especially enthusiastic when talking about them.

Herself a graduate of the third ever cosmetology trade program, Lori “tried to work with Somerville High School to train them and bring” a cosmetologist and other wellness staff into her place for years.

During COVID, she struggled with finding people to apply. Then, good fortune struck. “One day, I got lucky and got Brooklynn Higgins from the high school. She worked in a salon when she was in school.” Brooklyn has “blossomed” since starting a year ago, thanks to one-on-one training with Lori. Recently, thanks to a word-of-mouth referral, esthetician Juliana Scaramozzo started, and Lori has been doing skin care training with her, just like with Brooklynn. Now, she said, “We are moving and grooving.”

Lori likes talking about local history and reminisced about the early days at the USTravel World building that overlooked the commuter rail tracks. “When we were at that building I used to hang out on the fire escape for fresh air and a (cigarette) butt, thinking about the train coming. The train would go by, and the whole building would shake.”

Amal Niccoli, which is not a name of a person but rather the combination of two original owners’ names, has not been negatively affected by the Green Line Extension, the Broadway Bridge closure before, and the changes in parking around Ball Square.

Though initially a bit skeptical of its positive impact, Lori admits that the Green Line extension “impacted me more than I expected to.” She shared a story about a neighborhood meeting she hosted with city officials about parking changes. “When we had a meeting with (director of parking) Suzanne Rinfret, she said, ‘Well, people will come from Union and come to Ball Square.’ I said, I do not see anyone coming from Union. I don’t see the train helping me.”

Not one week later, Lori had to eat crow. “I got a bride who wanted to do trial hair and makeup. She was hopping on the train from Union Square. She got her hair colored. She was in a few times. She brought her mother in. You know what, you gotta admit when you are wrong. I was proven wrong and I accept that,” she shared with a chuckle.

When asked jokingly if she would work for another 45 years or if she had plans to retire anytime soon, she was reflective. “I don’t even know how to answer that question. I have no intentions of going anywhere soon. If I hit the lottery, maybe. I do like the Encore (casino).” I may hold my breath, as Lori is headed out of town soon on a cruise she won through that very same casino in Everett.

Amal Niccoli, 731 Broadway, Ball Square. https://www.amalniccoli.com/.

Note: this interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.