Kristen Atkinson opened the Brooke Barber Shop after moving her Mint Hair Studio to its second location down the street in September of 2014.
“When I saw that the owner, Carole, wanted to sell her barber shop, I talked to a lot of men in the neighbourhood who had been going there since they were children,” says Kristen. “I grew up in a small town where it was a cool thing to go with your dad to get a cut at the barber shop.”
Wanting to keep the old-school charm, Kristen renovated the newly named Brooke Barber Shop by keeping the business’s reputation and traditions alive. The chairs are original to the shop that held the space before Carole, and the rest of the design is quintessential 1950’s – checkered floors, a deer’s head on the wall, and a traditional striped barber’s pole out front.
When female clients from the neighbouring Mint Hair Studio were looking for a place where their partners or male friends could get their hair cut, Kristen knew there was a demographic that could be served.
“I wanted to have a barber shop in the neighbourhood that had an old-school vibe to it and a welcoming atmosphere for anyone who wants to walk in and get a fresh ‘do.
Kristen says that some of The Brooke’s clientele still prefer doing a drop-in, but for those that like to plan, online bookings are now available on the website, which can be booked with our very talented barbers, Candice & Tom. The vibe at the Brooke is fairly laid back, and clients won’t be in and out in ten minutes – at this barber shop, quality and style matter more than speed. The shop also offers a luxurious hot shave, guaranteed to be the ultimate relaxation experience.
“I cater to the broadest spectrum of client that I can, as this neighbourhood has a pretty broad spectrum of humans,” says Kristen. Now among a handful of new barber shops in the neighbourhood, the Brooke Barber Shop has found its niche by appealing to the needs of the transitioning demographic within the community.
Brooke Barber Shop
7 Sherbrooke Avenue
Ph | 613-722-3133
www.thebrooke.ca
www.facebook.com/thebrookebarbershop
www.twitter.com/thebrookebarber
This sponsored post is part of Kitchissippi Favourites, a special advertising feature that is printed in KT twice a year. Read the other profiles right here.