Los Angeles - January 26, 2005

Sprawl in the Family

Lucas Echo Park II

Traffic. Pollution. Strip malls. We’ve heard it all before, Miss Negativo. The growth of our fair megalopolis is ruining everything.

Before you get too jiggy on the complaint tip, have you considered that one of the benefits of living in an urban sprawl is, well, the sprawl factor?

Just ask the lovely ladies of Lucas. After one busy year on the hip strip of Echo Park Avenue, Taylor Lucas needed some elbow room — so she opened up another branch of the salon three doors down. While the original operation whips up do’s and has a cozy upstairs nook for facials and waxing, the newer Lucas — run by Taylor’s sister Nina — is the spot for nails. With treatments broken down into 25- and 45-minute sessions, you decide how to spend the time you’ve got on your hands.

And even though they’re getting bigger, it hasn’t affected the fit of their britches. Prices are still reasonable (manis start at $14, women’s haircuts at $65), and they’ll always stay open a bit later to fit you in if you ask nicely.

Now that’s what we call smart growth.

Lucas, 1547 Echo Park Avenue, between Sunset Boulevard and Lucretia Avenue, Echo Park (213-482-4068 or lucasechopark.com).