Partners expand salon, boutique with home furnishings store

Two friends who run a hair salon and a clothing boutique under the same roof recently expanded into a space next door to add a home furnishings shop to their offerings.

In November, Maria Casabianca and Jessica Ryan opened Casa Ryan at 24 Railroad Place after knocking down a wall to join the new furnishings store with Soma Boutique, Casabianca's clothing store, and Jessica Ryan Salon, owned by Ryan.

The duo from Westport decided to become business partners with the opening of the new shop to capitalize on Casabianca's experience in the fashion world and Ryan's flair for interior design, Casabianca said.

"We came up with this expansion with her talents in mind and my background with fashion and style and her background as well in decorating," said Casabianca, who has a degree in marketing from New York City's Fashion Institute of Technology and many years in the wholesale shoe industry. "It all kind of flows together."

About 18 months ago, Ryan, a hair stylist, opened Jessica Ryan Salon in an approximately 1,000-square-foot shop at 22 Railroad Place after moving the shop from 50 Railroad Place, where she ran it for six years. At the same time, Maria Casabianca, a fashion professional, launched Soma Boutique, a clothing store, in the same space as the full-service hair salon.

With the expansion, the three shops share a 2,000-square-foot space while the clothing boutique and salon keep their original address of 22 Railroad Place, Casabianca said.

The salon employs two stylists and two assistants, while Soma Boutique and Casa Ryan share two employees, Casabianca said.

Casa Ryan, the name of which comes from their last names, carries furniture from Nancy Price and artwork from Art Addiction and Trowbridge. The inventory also includes cow hides from Saddlemen, cashmere throws and pillows from Rani Arabella and Ryan Studio pillows as well as Motives Cosmetics and hostess gifts, Casabianca said.

Soma offers several clothing lines such as Cut25, Smythe and Chelsea Flower as well as a variety of jewelry and scarves, Casabianaca said.

The salon and stores are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday and until 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Call 203-226-0500 for information.