Sunday, October 25, 2020

Report: Astor Place Hairstylists will close next month after 73 years in business

Astor Place Hairstylists is the latest NYC institution to fall victim to the economic hardships brought on by COVID-19.

The subterranean shop, founded in 1947, will close before Thanksgiving, according to manager Michael "Big Mike" Saviello, who told the Post their that business is down by 90 percent.

They reopened in June, but the customers didn't return. 

Said Saviello: "Maybe we’ll come back when the city comes back, but right now it's not feasible." 

In 2018, Nicolas Heller, a filmmaker (aka New York Nico),  released "Big Mike Takes Lunch,” a documentary that captures a day in the life of the longtime manager. (Read my interview with Heller here. The link also includes an embed of the 12-minute film.)

Heller addressed the pending closure on his Instagram account ... urging his 466,000 followers to pay a visit...
Maybe I was being naive, but I never saw such an iconic NYC institution ever closing. I figured it was too loved by the community to ever shut down. But because of the pandemic, there are no customers and they can’t afford the astronomical rent. 

I’ve been told they definitely plan on closing for good UNLESS there is a “miracle.” I’m not sure what that means, but for your sake, I couldn’t encourage you more to stop by and get your haircut, and find your new barber. @astorplacehairstylists is so much more than just a barbershop, it’s a museum, it’s the epitome of NYC...

 And Astor Place Hairstylists addressed the outpouring of support in this Instagram post...

Photo from 2011 by Karen Gehres, who directed the film "Astor Barber All Stars."
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9 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 25, 2020 at 1:24 PM

    I am sorry to hear this news it is a real shame I have been going to Astor Place for years to get my haircuts. Now what? I got to find some other barber to go to. Very upsetting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 25, 2020 at 2:52 PM

    I cut my own hair since Pandemic started. Saved a ton if$

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousOctober 25, 2020 at 3:21 PM

    @1:24pm: You could always ask your Astor Place barber where s/he is moving to, or give that person your phone number or email and ask them to keep you informed of where to find them in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 25, 2020 at 11:34 PM

    I have gotten a haircut here. So did my brother. Sad to see it go.


    ReplyDelete
  5. BrianOctober 26, 2020 at 10:07 AM

    When I came to NY in the 90s, this was like a really cool place to get your hair cut.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Teeshirt GirlOctober 26, 2020 at 7:37 PM

    I got a girls mullet cut, dyed it Purple and shopped at Unique Boutique on 6th Avenue. Punk Rock hip - circa 1983. Love the bullhorn and ladder act at Astor. Don't let it die out. We already lost CBGB to high NYC rent!

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  7. CutenessOctober 26, 2020 at 8:19 PM

    Susie was the best. I will stop by for one more cut and get her info! Astor place haircuts will never be forgotten!

    ReplyDelete
  8. elizabethmdonovanNovember 23, 2020 at 1:31 PM

    Saved! Some rich customers stepped in. Story in the Post

    ReplyDelete

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