In the heart of Fifth Street in Philadelphia, Elsa Roig does more than run a beauty salon: she leads, listens, and supports her community. From her business, Elsa’s Unisex, she has built over the decades a space where personal care and social commitment come together.

Elsa has more than 30 years in her current location, although her career began much earlier: “I graduated in 1980. Then I came here to work. During my first ten years, I worked in the community in different beauty salons. After that, I worked from my home… and then the owner of this salon sold it to me. I’ve been here now for 30 years.”

“Here I have perfumery, fine costume jewelry, in addition to cosmetology services that include everything: haircuts, coloring, blowouts,” Elsa explained while describing the variety of services she offers at her shop.

Her commitment goes beyond business. For nearly three decades, she has worked directly with the community as a community person, in addition to serving as a block captain for more than 20 years: “It’s an organization that keeps the blocks clean… each block should have a representative,” she explained about her role, which includes coordinating efforts to improve the quality of life on her block.

She also serves as a link between residents and external resources: “If someone needs help from a politician, they can contact me and I can connect them.”

Challenges and realities of the community

When discussing the neighborhood’s needs, she emphasized the importance of communication: “People need many things, but the biggest one… is a little more communication. In this area, people hardly talk,” she said.

Although she acknowledges that the area has had a reputation for being violent, she also highlights positive changes:
“I think it may be a bad reputation, because lately it has been calmer.”

However, she also points out how things have changed over the years: “When I first came here, I could sleep with my doors open… now I have bars, and everything is closed.”

A salon that is also a gathering space

Elsa’s Unisex is not just a business, but a social gathering place: “This is like a meeting… on Fridays and Saturdays we talk about everything. Some bring their worries, others their joys… we play music, have a little wine,” she shared.

The atmosphere, as she describes it, works like a kind of community therapy where people talk about everything: beauty, plants, politics, and everyday life.

Information and service for the community

The salon offers full cosmetology services and is open Tuesday through Saturday.

“We open at 10:00. In the winter, I close at 4:30, and in the summer until 5:00 or 5:30. I’m here to serve, not only in beauty, but also with any community questions,” she stated.

Those seeking more information can contact her directly at 267-262-3376.

With stories like Elsa Roig’s, the Support Local section continues to highlight the value of small businesses that, beyond sustaining the economy, strengthen the social fabric of Philadelphia.

From here we say: Support Local!