Monday, March 1, 2010

New uptown barbershop combines shears and beers


If you'd like a brew with your haircut, a sleek new barbershop that opened uptown today has your number: The Cut barbershop, in the former Harper's To Go Go spot at 121 W. Trade St., just off Tryon, is serving up trims, shaves, buzz cuts and more in a beer, sports and rock 'n' roll-themed atmosphere.

Husband-and-wife team John and Jill Matthews have spent the last year developing the concept, and they say they've come up with what they envision as the perfect barbershop. "We sat back and erased everything we knew about a barbershop and built one from the ground up," John Matthews said. "We thought beer, sports and rock 'n' roll was really the perfect theme for guys."

Jill Matthews, a barber with 10 years' experience, said she developed the shop based on customer feedback. She also handled interior design, creating a modern environment featuring hues of black and gray, photos of rock artists, two flat-screen televisions that will primarily show sports and business news, Wi-Fi access and computers for customers to use.
The Matthewses said they're expecting 80 to 90 percent of the customers to be men, but the shop offers women's services, too. Everyone on the staff has more than seven years experience cutting men's hair, Jill Matthews said. The aim, she said, was to combine reasonable prices and an interesting urban setting: Domestic and imported beers are $2 and $3, and a men's haircut is $18.

Originally from Michigan, the Matthewses moved to Charlotte about a year ago from California, to be closer to family in the South. (John Matthews, who has served as chief financial officer of a California hedge fund, also went to Clemson for graduate school.) They've devoted their life savings to the barbershop and said they were excited to find a location near the center of town, with lots of foot traffic.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't really want hair in my beer.

Anonymous said...

Agreed ... AND I dont want to spend more than the 10-15 minutes it takes to cut my hair in such a place. Why would I need TV's, rock and roll and beer? Ill walk 3 steps to the bars next door for that.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Now I can booze and get a hair cut. What a great city!

Anonymous said...

That is amazing.

Anonymous said...

That is amazing, I will probably get my haircut 3 times a month.

Anonymous said...

I'm pleasantly surprised by the prices. I still don't want to pay more than $15 for a haircut if I'm only getting a trim, but $18 is remarkable considering what the the nearby competition charges (the bankrupt one).

Oh yeah, and careful about hair getting into beer.

Anonymous said...

I think you drink the beer & watch the sports while you wait, which seems like a pretty cool idea. I'll give then a shot.

Anonymous said...

Nothin' like being well-groomed when you appear before the magistrate for your DWI charge.

Anonymous said...

They will be out of business in a year.

Anonymous said...

I've heard nothing but GREAT comments about the Place. And why not have a beer during or after your hair cut. The beer is cheap and I heard the Female stylists are extremely hot. Hell, I'm there!

Out of business in a year?? WOW u must be one of their Competitors. Good luck dude, cuz I'm sure this place is gonna take over The barbershop biz uptown!

Ben Davis said...

Despite the controversy, I see the men's haircutting industry heading more in this direction. Guys have long desired places that are more comfortable and accomodating to experience their haircuting and spa services. Best of luck to The Cut!

Anonymous said...

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