Friday, January 27, 2012

New Barbershop & Social Club Coming to 705 H Street

IMG_2416
705 H Street is the red building

It doesn't have a name yet, but the space is looking quite nice. They will have barber chairs downstairs and pool upstairs. They are shooting for a spring opening.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Opening my bag of popcorn...

Anonymous said...

if it's one thing i've always said about h street, it's 'not enough barber shops'

Anonymous said...

Why do people get their hair cut so late at night around here?

Anonymous said...

Are they doing white hair or black hair? Currently there's nowhere on H that does white hair.

oboe said...

Are they doing white hair or black hair? Currently there's nowhere on H that does white hair.

Have you asked? I know when SOVA opened, one of the barber's from the local shop was inviting everyone to get their hair cut at his shop--all skin tones welcome.

Anonymous said...

@ Anon 12:38 - LMFAO!

inked said...

1:24,
I know white people who have had their hair cut at The Perfect Cut.

npm said...

Anon 1:24: I think everyplace on H St would cut white hair. (Actually, my hair is brown, not white, and my skin is kinda pinkish, but in any case...) I've been going to Smokey's for the last 6 years or so. There are a couple of barbers who didn't do a very good job - perhaps because they weren't used to straight "white" hair - but in general I'm pleased and have now learned who to ask for.

Anonymous said...

I wonder, with all the hair places on H, how many Frozen Tropics readers go to one? You KNOW you're hoping this place caters to white hair. Admit it. I am. If this is another black owned hair salon we can sarcasticly say, "not enough barber shops" But if this is a white hair establishment, there will be a line out the door. You know it's true. I can't wait. I need somewhere on H that cuts white hair. Is this a white owned barber shop or black owned? I'm asking what most everyone on here wants to know.

inked said...

3:43,
As was said above. Most places on H Street can and will cut white hair. Ask if you aren't sure.

If I were you I'd also hesitate to assume that most Frozen Tropics readers are the same color as you.

Anonymous said...

I went to Hillman's for a cut once, and it was pretty embarrassing. I'm sure they do a great job with certain types of hair but for this white boy it was an unmitigated disaster.

They were super friendly though.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure Hillman's did a terrible job...wasn't Hillman's the carpet store?

Anonymous said...

I cut white and black livers at the pug. Lately i've been damaging a lot of asian livers because of that trendy asian place upstairs

H Street Great Street said...

I think the place is named for the owner and called Christopher's. He told me it was much more lounge space than babershop -- emphasis on pool, barbeque, watching football, and hanging out. He seemed like a very nice guy and the place looked pretty nicely renovated -- defintely not your average local barbershop

curmudgeon said...

We need more pool on H. So far as I know, there's a couple of tables at the Country Club and that's it.

Anonymous said...

I'm white & I get my hair cut at Hillman's. Always friendly, always a great cut.

Derek said...

Is this the same location as the Xculsive was to be at? What ever happened to that?

inked said...

Derek,
this is next door to Xclusive.

Unknown said...

I made a comment to the owner of this blog earlier today, about it being overly racial. The blog comments reflect people's ideas and feelings about a ride range of topics . Since they have an affinity for the blog, then they must consider the blog to be attuned to their ideas.

It isn't a causal relationship. Their feelings and this blog's focus are mutually exclusive.

Yet, it's such a common theme that I wonder if it would be better to work for a deeper, fuller community, for the sake of the community. We wont do that. We just wont. So we will keep being colors, shapes, sizes, hair types, heights, hipster, newcomer, ghetto, drug boy, and what ever.


I don't think H needs another barber because part of H are saturated.

But these comments and perhaps to some level this blog and perhaps most of the neighborhood blogs in this city portend deep sinisterness.

-Robby

Kristin said...

I think a lot of the rhetoric on this blog has more to do with class than race and racism. I'm Black and agree with a lot of what is said here about crime and violence. I want to live in a safe neighborhood too!

I'm not saying that there are never racist comments, but I don't think they are as frequent as is implied in the previous post.

As for comments similar to the ones found in this post, if you think this is racism because Whites want a barber shop, I'd say that you're too sensitive. For those finding it hard to find someone that knows how to do their hair: welcome to what Black people encounter in 90% of America. :-)

Finally, I think Inked does an excellent job on this blog and is doing us a service. I'd rather know what people in my Neighborhood think than not, good or bad.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Kristin. Summed up my thoughts as well. I can't get my haircut at a "white" shop, they make me look like Sinbad. Would imagine white folks have similar issues with black barbers.

Unknown said...

Kristin:

I'm glad you're black, not that it matters, but lets not be total out and out liars. Race is a big factor in this blog's comments. I went to school in Ithaca, NY, I got hair cuts fine. The town was mostly white and Asian, yet most hair professionals actually learn to cut all types of hair.

To agree to these comments would be akin to saying a plumber can only work on one type of pipe. Nonsense.

Now, on to your more troubling, and dare I say stupid comment:

"I'm Black and agree with a lot of what is said here about crime and violence. I want to live in a safe neighborhood too! "

Since this had nothing to do with crime to say this to actually betray all the black people who've worked to improve this area, because it essentially says you have to agree with or be like white people to want safe streets. That's hogwash, all people want safety (read Maslow).

Let's not pedal racial stereotypes (and you don't get a pass because your black). Although I've learned not to expect better, as people are typically ignorant, selfish, and crass.

Let's not board the train to crazy town, this blog has some very racially charged comments that reflect people (all races) w/n the H Street area. To say otherwise is like saying we are post racial. A novel ideal, that's, well, soft headed at best.

I invite you to scroll through the posts about crime, 12, Horace and Dickey's. Scroll through the years. Some of the comments are rather F'ed up.

I know you may wish to live in a utopian H street but that's fake. I've had people on my job who read this blog tell me they like the posts but the comments ...sheesh.

So let's agree to disagree. If you find it okay then find it that way.

The truth is until we grapple with reality we will never get beyond its ugliness.


Also, lets not conflate class with race. No matter how many figures I make and other blacks here make we are increasingly suspect. We are lumped in with black drug dealers, and addicts. Often we need a white person to vouch for us, the same way some whites have to by blacks, but the difference is those blacks are on their way out.

As the social structure in DC changes black people in a sense are going to be yesterday's news. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, DC should be like the rest of the nation, where blacks by and large stay in their place (neighborhoods, parts of town). As I've also discussed w/Inked certain cities are used for marketing research. None of those cities are very well integrated.

That most likely is the future of DC, there are no bad actors per se, perhaps not even a bad outcome, but to make a barbershop opening a racial matter is what happens on FT all too often.

Whites get defensive, blacks cry foul, and so it goes. For example there are assertions about being native verses non-native. People really take offense to that one, it's visceral to some people. And they often respond with racist or ignorant responses (all races).


In the end we are stuck together, so as I did in Ithaca, talk to the barber they are in fact professionals.

-Robby

KristinRobby, Yeah I guess we'll just agree to disagree. I've read through almost every post and comment section for the past couple of years and I guess I'm just not as sensitive as you. I've lived in places where I've seen racism run the whole spectrum from unintended racism to very overt racism (ie a lovely little Podunk town in VA where there were certain places Black people couldn't even go - in the 2000s no less!). I simply don't think this blog is that bad. The only reason i brought up my race is to show that its not just white people who want Murry's gone (I do too). If all the talk about Horace and Dickeys dumping grease is true and i lived near there then yes I'd be pissed off too. I sometimes walk to the other side of the street to avoid scary characters that hang out on that corner in front of H&D too. So? Obviously I'm not racist. as another example, I was appalled when people who were commenting on this blog that anyone who opposed XII lounge was racist just because they didn't like the music or the color of the people that hang out there, defending that place as 'a part of our culture?' How about the fact that there have been more than one occasion of people getting stabbed or beat up or gunfire inside that lounge? That isn't my culture and I'm offended that anyone would want to pigeonhole Black culture into something so ugly. I didn't mean to imply that only Whites want safe streets. Let's not delude ourselves here though. More often than not black kids in this neighborhood are killing each other and other than a mention on the news, I don't here anything of it. Oh no, but when the ATF agent (?)who was trying to protect law abiding citizens shot and killed a young neighborhood guy who he felt was pulling a gun on him, you get people organizing and marching in the streets, about to call Rev. Al to come to town, flyers in my mailbox, etc. Please. Again, I just haven't had the experience you've had. I don't need Whites to 'vouch' for me. I'm not even really sure what context you're talking about. Hailing a cab or something? As for the hair - I did get my hair done once in Podunk, VA. It was the first and last time. Bless their hearts, they tried. I'd love to see a picture of what your hair looked like while getting it cut up in Ithaca :-) Also, no need to be rude. Ironic that you bemoan the lack of civilized discourse on this blog but in your responses you're extremely rude and condescending. said...

Robby, Yeah I guess we'll just agree to disagree.

I've read through almost every post and comment section for the past couple of years and I guess I'm just not as sensitive as you. I've lived in places where I've seen racism run the whole spectrum from unintended racism to very overt racism (ie a lovely little Podunk town in VA where there were certain places Black people couldn't even go - in the 2000s no less!). I simply don't think this blog is that bad.

The only reason i brought up my race is to show that its not just white people who want Murry's gone (I do too). If all the talk about Horace and Dickeys dumping grease is true and i lived near there then yes I'd be pissed off too. I sometimes walk to the other side of the street to avoid scary characters that hang out on that corner in front of H&D too. So? Obviously I'm not racist. as another example, I was appalled when people who were commenting on this blog that anyone who opposed XII lounge was racist just because they didn't like the music or the color of the people that hang out there, defending that place as 'a part of our culture?' How about the fact that there have been more than one occasion of people getting stabbed or beat up or gunfire inside that lounge? That isn't my culture and I'm offended that anyone would want to pigeonhole Black culture into something so ugly.

I didn't mean to imply that only Whites want safe streets. Let's not delude ourselves here though. More often than not black kids in this neighborhood are killing each other and other than a mention on the news, I don't here anything of it. Oh no, but when the ATF agent (?)who was trying to protect law abiding citizens shot and killed a young neighborhood guy who he felt was pulling a gun on him, you get people organizing and marching in the streets, about to call Rev. Al to come to town, flyers in my mailbox, etc. Please.

Again, I just haven't had the experience you've had. I don't need Whites to 'vouch' for me. I'm not even really sure what context you're talking about. Hailing a cab or something?

As for the hair - I did get my hair done once in Podunk, VA. It was the first and last time. Bless their hearts, they tried. I'd love to see a picture of what your hair looked like while getting it cut up in Ithaca :-)

Also, no need to be rude. Ironic that you bemoan the lack of civilized discourse on this blog but in your responses you're extremely rude and condescending.

Orsovay said...

I'm Latino and I live here. Talk about feeling left out...

inked said...

orsovay,
Wait, so we have Latios, and also Asians? How crazy. Who could have imagined it wasn't just a black/white thing?

Anonymous said...

i don't think H St country club still has pool tables last i checked. it's a big missing ingredient in the area though i haven't checked out the tables at the place on bladensburg rd

curmudgeon said...

Anon 9:11pm -- what place on Bladensburg?

Anonymous said...

There is a pool bar at 23 and Benning - a big Pool sign hangs above the door.

Far H St

Anonymous said...

Umm. Is it me or can you tell that Robby is crazy by the way that he writes?

Tom A. said...

I hope the initial anonymous commenter had a FEW bags of popcorn. S/he certainly needs it.

It's gotten GOOD up in this blog post.

I walked by this place last week, and the social club aspect seems to be going already- there was a group of guys playing checkers in there. I was wondering why a gorup of guys were playing checkers in an empty building! Now I know.

Anonymous said...

Great news, a business opening on H St that isn't a restaurant or bar. To @anon Jan.27 1:24pm, I say so what if there aren't places on H that cut "white" hair. Every neighborhood doesn't cater to every want. DC is small enough to get what you want close by. There isn't one restaurant on H that sells papusas. So I bike, bus, or drive to Petworth/CH to get papusas.

tiffanyc said...

why does robby have to be crazy? i'm in agreement with much of his post.

there's a huge cultural difference when it comes to barbershops. for black men, its very much a social experience too. you can spend hours in there. friendships and relationships are developed. you go to the same one for years, and you only sit in one man's chair. black men usually keep their hair shorter so this could be a weekly visit and it's best to go late in the week so you look fresh for the weekend. to combine a barbershop with pool is just extending the social aspect that's already there. the proprietor probably has a solid base of customers he knows likes to hang out, talk, get a haircut, drop by to talk about the game etc and now he is just providing more for them.

and barbers and hairstylist train on ALL types of hair. before you touch human hair, you're working on mannequin hair which more resembles white hair. sit in their chair, know how to describe the look you want and give them a chance. or try going to a black salon where they use shears more often. you'll be fine.

Anonymous said...

I am @anon 11:48am.

So my point is, that instead of making these silly racial comments, find what you want in DC, it may not be right outside of your door. Don't be afraid to check out other neighborhoods. H St is well known for black barber shops, this is well needed in DC.

Anonymous said...

well said @tiffanyc!!

Dave B said...

We dont know anything about this new barbershop. It seems to me that it makes more business sense for it to cater to white people because it would be unique for this area. Or maybe they have white barbers and black barbers and basically advertise that they will cut everybody's hair well. I'd be excited for this place, but I'm not in the market for a new barber/whatever. I've been going to the same guy a Bubbles (don't judge me) for a couple years. I can justify the expense every six weeks. For this reason, I doubt this new place is expecting to poach customers from existing H St barbers. People dont change their long time barber unless they have to

oboe said...

why does robby have to be crazy? i'm in agreement with much of his post.

Agreed, I don't think Robby's crazy, and I often agree with some of his points. I just think he's damned rude, which is fueled by an unexamined self-righteousness.

oboe said...

I'd like to give a shout-out to Michael Craig over on Pennsylvania Ave. They do "black" and "white" hair equally well, they give shaves, etc, etc... Basically a local version of the Grooming Lounge, but you'll be supporting a hyper-local business.

Expensive but worth it.

Anonymous said...

Have you seen those rambling posts? Dude is crazy.

les poo des infants said...

off-kilter and crazy are not the same thing. give the dude a break.

tiffanyc said...

why does it make more sense to cater to a white clientele? HELLO! black people move IN to this neighborhood TOO. and they may want to support a local barber TOO.

and how do you advertise you can cut white hair? get vistaprint to make you a sign saying "hey we cut white boy hair every month and a half"? stop being afraid of your neighbors and businesses that were here before you. walk in the door. ask them. take a chance and give them a chance.

the real fear here is that the opening of a black barbershop means this neighborhood isn't going in the direction many had hope. it means that black people are still around. we need to accept that the h street neighborhood will exist for many different kinds of people and every new business doesn't have to cater to YOU.

kapricious1 said...

Chris is a nice guy. He also opened up the new tatoo place up on the East end of H St. last year. Good luck, Chris!

Dave B said...

i dont see much fear in this thread. i have a hair cutter.

i see an interesting discussion about how something as common as cutting hair is very different for different races of people.

and what could a black barbershop do do demonstrate that they can competently cut white hair to increase or stay in business as the demographics change. i dont know how to do this. thats why i'm not in the barber business.

as far as my comment about how it would make sense to cater to white clentele, i stand by it. why would you enter the highly competitive h street "black" barbershop business when you can be the first void filler for the increasing number of whites who are moving to the area who need their hair cut.

Alan Page said...

Glad to see another business opening.

I wish them success.

Alan Page said...

Glad to see another business opening.

I wish them success.