It was three years before Warby Parker, a startup that began selling stylish prescription lenses online in 2010, opened up its first physical store in New York City's SoHo district. It took Harry's, the shaving products company launched by Warby Parker cofounder Jeff Raider earlier this year, just seven months.
On Monday, Harry's — which specializes in low-priced ($10 to $25) razors and grooming kits for men — is opening a full-service barbershop called The Corner Shop at 64 MacDougal St., just five blocks away from Warby Parker's flagship location. The Corner Shop offers visitors a haircut ($35) or shave ($30) in one of two barber chairs, as well as products from Harry's and from third-party brands recommended by the shop's two veteran barbers.
See also: Warby Parker Trailblazed a New Type of Commerce — What's Next?
The shop, which occupies just 300 square feet, is an impressive rendering of the Harry's brand in physical form. Design firm Partners & Spade selected cool grey walls and birch shelves for the interior, which present a neutral backdrop for the gleaming, refurbished 1920s Koken barber chairs set across from birch-framed mirrors. Framed images of haircuts from nearly 50 years prior, acquired from a barbershop in Harlem, lend the shop a vintage vibe it otherwise lacks. The shelves behind the chairs are brighter, where shoppers can find Harry's bright orange Truman razors next to Sleepy Jones Boxers, Geneva portable speakers and Public Supply notebooks, among other items.
Jason Semine, manager of The Corner Shop, told Mashable the venture is hoping to be independently profitable, though that's not its main goal.
"The reason we did this is because we can communicate with our customers, we can bring our brand to life ," Semine said. "Obviously we want it to be profitable, but I think for us what we want to be focused on is that take the Harry's brand and bring it to a physical location and let's get to know our customers."
Semine added that the company didn't charge as much as it could for a haircut. "We want to give value back to our customers, so we set our prices to reflect that."
Though the shop is aiming for a classic feel, customers can enjoy a little convenient technology. Barbers will store photos of every haircut on an iPad app, accompanied with notes as a reference for future visits (such as what razors are used). Appointments can be made online at Harrys.com. The shop also accepts walk-in appointments.
Semine couldn't say whether this will be Harry's only barbershop, but should the flagship prove successful, we can expect to see stores in additional urban markets soon.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Image: Harry's