![]() ![]() Since their redecoration, they have heard dozens of stories from retirees waxing eloquent about favorite barbershops from their youth. Mooradian and Sieber's yearn for the days when barbershops were not just popular, but a local hangout. "I think there's more people looking for barbershops, but not as many out there," said Tom Allen owner of Suncoast Barbers, 4489 County Line Road. Most say their customer base is about half young, half old. ![]() Hernando County has about a dozen barbershops, several of which say they're doing well, largely because of the current popularity of shorter hairstyles. The average cost of a men's cut has hovered between $8 and $10 throughout Florida. She is one of the North Suncoast's few female barbers, which is often unsettling to the primarily male clientele, although she's more experienced than Mooradian.Īnd in Florida, barbers have also have had to grapple with paying $100 more in licensing fees, thanks to the Florida Barbers' Board, the state group that regulates barbers and has been plagued by financial problems. "Half of these kids don't know what a straight razor is," said Sieber's, 60, who has 41 years of experience. Once a mainstay of American culture, where men regularly went to get a cut, shave, shoeshine and a manicure, not to mention news and gossip, many barbershops across America have struggled to keep up with the onslaught of unisex salons. Since the 1960s, when men started growing their hair longer, the traditional barbershop has become harder to find. Although Mooradian and Sieber's exude decades of experience and talent, they are practicing a waning art. Regular cuts now start at $8.Īnother motivation fueling the shop's gimmick is betrayed by framed black-and-white copies of pictures from Ronald Barlow's The Vanishing American Barber Shop, which trim the walls. Mooradian said he and Sieber's redecorated to remind customers of the old days, although customers couldn't help noticing that the shop's redecoration coincided with a $2 price hike. "But men still like to go to a barber shop, so we figured we'd give them a old-fashioned place to come." "Everyone's got modern salons," said Mooradian, who has 33 years of barbering experience.
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