Barber Chris offers old-school barber services
Mount Pleasant resident Chris Breidinger cuts Regis Ferland's hair on Feb. 4, 2015 at Barber Chris barber shop.
For Chris Breidinger, getting a haircut at a barbershop is a classic and timeless tradition comprised of more than clippers and a few minutes in a chair.
Breidinger, owner of Barber Chris barbershop, is a licensed barber with 15 years of experience. He opened his namesake shop at 206 South Main Street in September. The barbershop specializes in men's haircuts both long and short, ranging from classic to modern cuts.
The atmosphere of the shop defines what Breidinger wants his business to be: A place for guys to relax, receive a good cut or shave and watch a game.
Inside the one-room shop sit four cherry-red barber chairs. A flat-screen TV set to a sports network airs games of the day while a Pandora station plays modern and classic rock hits in the background.
Contact information
Phone: (989) 202-4401
Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Address: 206 South Main Street
“I want it to be like you’re going over to your buddy’s man cave and hanging out," Breidinger said. "When you come here we’re going to talk about sports, about going to the bars. We’ve been around."
Breidinger explained that many men believe they have to go to hairstylists or salons for more complicated styles rather than barbershops, which are often stereotyped as simple and only for the older crowd.
"A lot of people think when they see a barber shop that it’s some old guy in an old building, giving them flat-tops. I do more modern styles like short fades, tapers and lines as well. We also know how to do long hair," Breidinger said.
Traverse City senior Quinn McKay said he sees the barbershop as a modern adaptation to the more traditional, old-school experience.
"You think of old barbershops from the 50's, but that's not really all this place is about. He can do any style, including some of the more modern ones like those fades that are currently popular," McKay said.
Barber Chris also offers straight razor shaves, complete with hot towels and skin care.
Pete Grondin, Barber Chris's second barber, specializes in straight razor shaves, a practice he said lost popularity when King C. Gillette began producing safety razors in the early 1900's.
According to Grondin, straight razors are now manufactured in Germany and are disposable. After a razor is used, it's thrown away to prevent potential health threats.
Although the shop's specialty is men's haircuts and shaves, both barbers are also trained to cut women's hair. There are no appointments. Clients are encouraged to walk in.
Central Michigan University students who present their student IDs can get a haircut at a discounted price.
