As a firm believer in the potential of Mainstreet in Oranjestad, 2024 marks a new chapter for Silvienne Thijzen’s (31) Mossa Salon. With her expertise in Cosmetology, alongside the support of Zilha, her financial management partner, Silvienne is thrilled to bring her passion for beauty to life with a salon concept that offers not only the best services but also a pleasant and clean environment. She has now achieved this for the community right in the heart of Aruba: Mainstreet.
Silvienne studied as a beauty specialist in the Netherlands and worked in various salons there, where she gained a wealth of experience in the field. Although it was a period of significant learning, Silvienne was ready to return home. She came back to Aruba with the desire to open her own salon, and since then, the memories of Mainstreet have always been with her. "I remember Mainstreet, where you could spend your whole Saturday meeting friends or shopping. It was a unique meeting place. Inspired by these memories, the journey to bring Mossa one day to the center of Oranjestad began to take shape."
Silvienne Thijzen
Mossa Salon initially started its business in 2018 on Sta. Helenastraat, on the outskirts of Oranjestad. Despite the location not being in the very center, Silvienne always had her eyes on Mainstreet. "I just love Mainstreet." Seeing that there was no salon there, she saw the ideal opportunity. Already in 2018, Silvienne began discussions with Maggy’s, a renowned business established in Oranjestad since 1955, about the possibility of opening Mossa Salon on Mainstreet. “The goal was always to merge the strengths of the businesses under one roof, which is a super great idea because we always believed in working together and uniting forces with other businesses. " The synergy between Mossa and Maggy’s is clear. Silvienne explains, "In our case, we bring traffic to Maggy’s and vice versa. Maggy’s clients get introduced to Mossa, and our clients have direct access to all the excellent products Maggy’s offers."
Moving Mossa Salon to Mainstreet wasn’t without challenges. Parking is a significant concern for many people. “When I mention that Mossa’s new location is Mainstreet, the first comment is always about the availability of parking.” However, she says that the change is now being embraced more and more. “Acceptance has come from those who are concerned because Mainstreet is quieter compared to before. At the same time, our clients have embraced it with great enthusiasm. While some may have ‘given up’ on Mainstreet, Silvienne sees it as a location with its own charm.
Silvienne’s determination to succeed on Mainstreet comes from her belief in the area’s potential and her fond memories. “I have beautiful memories of shopping with my family. Every December we would go as a family to buy gifts,” she says. She sees the benefits of being on Mainstreet; “I see it as us being a ‘stepping stone’ for people who visit Mossa to also check out other businesses.
For example, clients who come to us often end up taking advantage of their visit to make other purchases in the area because they are already there.”
Silvienne envisions a Mainstreet filled with businesses and people enjoying their time together. "My vision is to see businesses reopening, a place where families and friends can spend great times shopping and sharing together. A Mainstreet where you can find everything in one area, without feeling the need to go elsewhere."
“To young business owners, we can bring change for the next generations and lift Mainstreet back up.”
“It’s not the work of one person or one business, but all of us as a community to lift Mainstreet back up." Businesses can believe in Mainstreet, but if the community doesn’t support us, we can’t grow to bring the changes we want to see. In my case, my partnership with Maggy’s, an established business in Mainstreet for so many years with a renowned name, made it easier to believe in Mainstreet. For others, I feel the rental situation could be something that makes it more attractive for more businesses to take the courage to move to Mainstreet. As a business owner, I know that rent is one of the biggest expenses we have.”
Thoughts on Creating a Residential & Culinary Mainstreet:
“A great idea, this will significantly enhance the life of Mainstreet.”
In the next five years, Silvienne sees Mossa and Maggy’s Emporium Beauty growing together and making a significant impact on Mainstreet. "We have many plans for our clients and the Aruba community. Our fusion aims not only to revitalize Mainstreet but also to set an example that, by joining forces, we can create a greater impact and benefit our businesses." To motivate the local community and support businesses on Mainstreet, Silvienne plans to use their social media platforms through MOSSA and MAGGY’S to bring more people back to Mainstreet.
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