Andee, Chanel and Bianca Velasco
Sisters open European Wax Center in honor of mother
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski / Photo by Chris Mortenson
The Velasco family sought to open a European Wax franchise as a family project. When their matriarch, Dr. Lisa Velasco, passed away of pancreatic cancer at age 52, the mission took on a greater cause.
“We always had a love for the beauty industry,” Chanel, the oldest sister, says. “Our mother’s diagnosis devastated our entire family.”
“We decided to continue this venture of building our European Wax Center presence in her honor. We wanted to do it for ourselves and for her. That led us to where we are today.”
Lisa and her husband, Dr. Xavier Velasco, wanted to lay the groundwork for the future of their daughters, Chanel, Andee and Bianca. In June 2014, they purchased licenses for European Wax and relocated to Westchester in August 2015.
“With our mom’s illness, the trajectory of our plans and our vision of how our EWC would develop changed,” Chanel says. “Once Andee and Bianca graduated from LMU in 2019, we set our sights on opening European Wax Center at HHLA.”
Bianca — who, with Andee, played basketball at LMU — was always drawn to the beauty industry, something the three sisters inherited from their mother.
Delayed opening
The sisters picked up the keys to their European Wax location on March 5, 2020 — just before the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. European Wax Center at HHLA officially opened in September 2021.
“We’re incredibly grateful to be open now and have our name out there,” Chanel says.
“This is the opportunity for us, as women, to pave the way for other young women who have visions of making an impact in the beauty community and also, within our peer group.”
Bianca says she enjoys being in business with her sisters and other women.
“At EWC we have a team of wonderful and strong women, and I love empowering all women,” Bianca says. “I think this is an amazing space.”
“I am the youngest of the three sisters. As a young woman entrepreneur, I couldn’t be more proud and happier to be in the position I am today. I want women to have a place they can call home, feel comfortable and be themselves. We want our guests to leave our EWC with unapologetic confidence.”
The store’s opening was inspirational to Bianca as well.
“We could have just let the licenses expire and go our own ways,” Bianca says. “The fact that we were doing this in real life and not just talking about it was very special. We are continuing our mother’s legacy. I know she’s definitely smiling down on us, knowing we fulfilled her dream.”
Chanel adds, “On our opening day, there was a butterfly that landed on our storefront window and never left. We felt like our mom was with us the entire day.”
European Wax Center
6081 W. Center Drive, Suite 106, Westchester
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