Cecelia “Ceci” Bermeo raised her glass, and proposed a toast to dreaming out loud. Around her, the space—newly her own—was awash in gold and black accents, balloons shimmering as they bobbed in the morning sunlight. Across one wall, dozens of gem- and candy-colored bottles of nail polish created a vivid rainbow. She was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Bermeo is the founder and owner of Ceci’s Nails II, which Friday hosted a long-awaited ribbon cutting at 965 Boston Post Rd. in Guilford. The dazzling brainchild of Bermeo, an Ecuadorian immigrant who has built her dream business in Connecticut, the new spa and nail salon offers many services such as nail repair, manicure and pedicure, and waxing.
While the storefront has officially been open for a week, Friday’s celebration, complete with treats for attendees and all manner of delicate gold and crepe paper decorations, made it feel official. Her first location, at 214 Amity Rd. in Woodbridge, remains open as well, a testament to how beloved and sought after her services have become in the community.
“I couldn’t see myself until I opened up my own business,” she said, surrounded by gold streamers and big, bright fabric flowers that made it clear that Bermeo is in the business of flourishing, with sharp attention to sweet and sometimes-glamorous detail.
Since starting Ceci’s Nails and Spa in December of 2018, she has not only gained support from her friends and family, but a large clientele, ready to follow her as she grows.
That story is decades in the making. Twenty-five years ago, Bermeo came to the United States from the Republic of Ecuador and started a new life in West Haven, including building a family with two sons. She took her first steps into nail art when her sister worked with a nail tech in the region. Before opening her first location in Woodbridge, Bermeo worked at Blue Sky Nails in New Haven.
She is quick to say that she wouldn’t be able to do any of it without a dedicated team—and a family that has supported her business dreams, just as those dreams have supported them. Sara Cardenas, who is Bermeo’s cousin, does everything at the Woodbridge location. Friday, she marvelled at how strong and resilient her cousin is. She's been a role model to watch, she said.
The Guilford location, nestled between Boston Post Road and State Street, is a testament to that hard work. When Bermeo realized that she had the resources to expand—and an enthusiastic client base that would both follow her and spread the word— she was looking for multiple things. The 965 Boston Post Rd. storefront gave her a parking lot for clients, with a view of greenery and vegetation. It’s also located close to other shops, which creates some added foot traffic.
Customer and friend LindyLee Gold, a senior economic development specialist for the State of Connecticut and the generous heart and mind behind the Amour Propre Fund, was overjoyed by the start of this new chapter. She noted that Bermeo’s story—particularly in a fractured and divisive political time—is proof of an American dream, in which years of hard work led to a thriving woman-owned, immigrant-owned business that puts money back into the local economy.
LindyLee Gold (at left) with Bermeo on her big day. “To see refugee [and] immigrant women who have the grit and perseverance to achieve the American Dream restores my hope," she said.
In addition to creating nail art, Bermeo is an economic engine: she employs over 10 people across both of her shops, creating local jobs that ChatGPT will never be able to.
“To see refugee [and] immigrant women who have the grit and perseverance to achieve the American Dream restores my hope,” Gold said. She grinned and held up her hands, showing off her pastel-painted nails with a simple design. “This is real art.”
It’s real art that customers like Denise Hartmann, a realtor who helped Bermeo find and purchase the space, will drive across town lines for. Currently, Hartmann visits the first location of Ceci’s Nails location every two weeks to get her nails done, despite living a short drive away in Bethany. She’s been a regular for almost as long as the shop has been open. Even though she is located in Bethany, Hartmann can see herself coming to Guilford once in a while.
“She’s come a long way,” she said of Bermeo, not just referring to the miles between salons. “Her location in Woodbridge is amazing, but this is completely hers.”
Before the sun could reach the top of the sky, everyone went outside. Two employees held the ribbon tight as Guilford First Selectman Matt Hoey welcomed Ceci’s Nails II to the community.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Ceci and her team to Guilford and admire her hard work and thank her for taking a chance with Guilford,” he said. “Welcome!”
With a pair of scissors that looked big enough for a giant, Bermeo cut the ribbon, smiling at the explosion of applause.
Despite the hard work and challenges to open this second location, Bermeo has not ruled out the idea of more locations in the future. Even though years have passed since starting out, she wouldn’t do anything differently, she added. She cherishes the connections she has made with clients and different experiences.
“I would do it all again. Because of them, I am here today.”
Afterward, everyone made their way back inside to enjoy refreshments. Her husband, Manuel Cabrera, opened a bottle of champagne with a festive pop!, pouring it into glasses and passing them around.
Cabrera is happy to be in a town that his family is familiar with, he said. Though their two sons weren’t at the grand opening, he was thinking of them, fondly remembering family outings at Bishop’s Orchards and Ashley’s Ice Cream. The eldest is attending the University of New Hampshire and the younger son goes to high school in West Haven, he said.
Over the years, he’s seen little kids, teens, men and women of all ages come to his wife’s salon in Woodbridge, and hopes Guilford won’t be any different. Cabrera and three-year nail tech Genesis Feliz are both passionate about art and create original designs for the salon.
Once most people left, it seemed like any other day. Then the door opened and in came their first customer after the grand opening. Right off the street was Darriell Rolka, who wanted to get her nails done and was interested in the new business.
“Just a manicure,” she said as she took a seat, smiling brightly.
This article comes from a graduate of the 2024 Cohort of the Youth Arts Journalism Initiative. Ruby Szekeres is a junior at Oak Meadow School.