Nancy Tran, owner of Four Seasons Nail Salon, enjoys Madison’s Southern hospitality. CONTRIBUTED

Why I Love This Town

MADISON – After growing up in Vietnam and living in New York City, Nancy Tran has found a perfect fit in Madison.

“New York was good and ambitious, (but) this is just a much better fit for me now. I’m older and have a family,” she said. “I love the Southern hospitality and friendly, supportive atmosphere.”

She has owned Four Seasons Nail Salon, 1604 Hughes Road since November 2003. Tran has 27 years of salon experience.

In New York, she worked for “Modern Bride” magazine and a successful restaurant. To confirm her love for America, she became a U.S. citizen.

Then, she visited her uncle in North Alabama. “I immediately fell in love. So much so, I bought a house the next day … 16 hours after arriving here,” Tran said. For 1.5 years, she owned USA Travel agency in Huntsville before returning to the salon business.

“I like to meet different people. I make friends and learn their stories,” she said. “I learn a lot about society. I love the outcome of what I do.”

After living here, Tran realized the area didn’t have a Vietnamese church. “I’m a Christian music singer. In March 2015, I was looking for a church to film a music video. I went to Restoration Foursquare Church. Pastor Huey Hudson granted permission to use his church’s sanctuary,” she said.

Hudson suggested starting a Vietnamese church in Restoration’s facility. Last fall, “we had the area’s first Vietnamese church. Seeds had been planted” years ago with a client who was married to Restoration Church’s founder. “It was a miracle.”

The church, Tinh Yeu Khong Bien Gioi (Love Without Boundary), meets at Restoration Foursquare Church, 5810 Wall Triana on Sundays at 11 a.m. Six families now attend.

“We’re humbled by what we’ve been called to do. God has put people in my life,” Tran said.

Daughter Catherine, 19, is a sophomore at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Alexander, 15, a Bob Jones High School freshman. Their toy poodle is named Al.

“Whenever we take a vacation as a family, New York is where we go,” Tran said.