Growing up in a small town had me observing men going for their weekly shaves to a particular barbershop. They would sit there, one reading a newspaper, two discussing local political issues and two getting their stubble shaved. Everyone would be a part of the conversation and would leave the shop more satisfied with the knowledge of the local affairs they had acquired than the shave they came for.
So, shaving was just an excuse to socialise and be in the know. And this was not limited to my town.
Three friends, Adam Kirsch, Jeff Laub and Josh Boyd, in New York’s East Village acted upon this concept and opened Blind Barber in 2010 – a two-chair barbershop in front and a cocktail lounge bar in the back.
As it gained popularity, Blind Barber opened its branches in Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles. Today, Blind Barber stands with a total of seven branches spread over four cities.
They have an extremely small but perfected menu with 15 types of Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and selection of classic and seasonal cocktails like Batman and Bitches Brew. The Sweeney Todd is one of their signature and most popular cocktails, with Irish whiskey, egg white, lemon juice and honey syrup as its main ingredients. And it’s safe to say the bars see an uninterrupted crowd flowing in and out – not just for the special cocktails or a haircut but also the uniqueness of the mashup.
Blind Barber launched its male-grooming product line quite recently to reach out to their clientele in remote areas. The brand wants men to experience Blind Barber and be a part of the community irrespective of their location.
So, if you are ever in one of the four cities mentioned above, go to the Blind Barber branch to experience the best of hospitality the spirit and men grooming industries can offer!
