Wednesday, November 16, 2011

☞ SHOP: The Other Retro Harlem Barber Shop

The other retro Harlem barber shop which has a distinct facade can be found on 116th Street just west of Lenox Avenue. This signage has an aesthetic that would have been more popular towards the mid 20th century but still looks sharp today.  Claudio's further east on 116th Street is the other barber shop with a retro feel but the overall look of that establishment feels more early century than the more modern South Harlem counterpart.  Claudio's East Harlem shop almost closed this year but was eventually saved by local politicians so the two shops still remain to represent the various histories of Harlem: LINK

5 comments:

  1. I ventured in for a crew cut. The barbers were very nice. It was the hateful, anti-semitic spew regurgitated by Louis Farrakahn that was playing on the television when I decided to never to return, retro sign or not.

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  2. I LOVE these Retro places ! We should have retro Hair Salons as well !! It is such a wonderful part of Harlem's "family" History !

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  3. I’m sure Mr. Farrakahn would be delighted to know he made someone uncomfortable and drove them out of a Harlem establishment with his hate speech. I recommend ignoring or challenging that kind of bigotry, but never let it push you away or you are letting a hater win.

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  4. Westsider,
    In principal you are right, but the barbershops are plentiful in Harlem where I live. I easily found another that can manage a crew cut without the background noise of Farrakahn.

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  5. This is the shop where our family has gotten haircuts for more than 20 years. Its Muslim sensibilities have always made it less boisterous and profane than a lot of barber shops, and we have become very friendly with the barbers. I am so sorry to hear that hateful speech was spewing from the television when pignoli went there, and I do not doubt that a Farrakahn video was shown, but that is NOT usually the case. In all the years we have patronized this shop, the most offensive thing I've found is the propensity to play graphic horror movies like "Final Destination."

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