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Located in the heart of Old Town East, the Old Familiar Barber Shop is celebrating their fifth anniversary on April 1. When owner Kenji Prince and business partner Josh Wilbur first opened their doors five years ago, they were not only ahead of the times, but they were also behind them. Long before the trend of old-timey barber shops with straight razor shaves and red-white-and-blue barber poles swept twenty-first century Columbus, Prince and Wilbur were practicing the traditional barber techniques in their own shop.
Prince and Wilbur began with a building so sparse, there wasn’t even a ceiling. They originally installed three sinks, hoping one day their business would grow enough to add another barber. Within two years they had grown enough to add a third barber, and within three more years they expanded to add four more, with a total of seven barbers working in the shop to date. In addition to the extra sinks and work space installed, the shop has also collected local art, mounted animal heads, and eclectic photos on the walls.
Along with being one of the original boutique barber shops in Columbus, Old Familiar has created a walk-in system that has been emulated in shops from Columbus to Chicago. The barbers take appointments seven days a week (usually booked one to two weeks out), with one barber reserved each day solely for walk-ins. Once in the shop, walk-in clients sign up for a time slot for that day on a chalkboard, and are free to leave until their designated appointment time. Wilbur says he likes this system because it keeps their waiting area from being overly crowded, and it gives more freedom to clients. In a traditional salon, if a client leaves, they lose their place in the walk-in line. Old Familiar’s system allows clients to grab a coffee or run errands while they wait for their haircut and shave. The owner, Prince, recommends clients come early for the walk-in slots as they often have a line down the street before they even open their doors in the morning.
In addition to offering consistently great haircuts, shaves, and beard trims, Old Familiar hosts and participates in several events. In the shop, they hold their annual Christmas party and anniversary party, with this year’s party being held Saturday April 1 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. The anniversary party is open to the public, and Prince says he loves the social time with the clients at the parties.
Additionally, they host bachelor parties and provide a space for groomsmen to gather and get cleaned up for a wedding, which can also be hosted at the barber shop, officiated by owner Kenji Prince (walk-in wedding ceremonies are also an option). Off site, the shop is the official barber of the Hell City Tattoo Convention, both at home in Columbus and at a pop-up shop in Phoenix. In July, the barbers host the only Beard and Mustache Competition at the Ohio State Fair.
Old Familiar is not only a staple in Old Town East neighborhood; they are also committed to giving back to the community. In the past, they have offered free haircuts to veterans and service members on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day, and free haircuts to fire fighters and police officers on their respective recognition days. They have plans to offer these services again in the coming months.
For more information on services and products available, including the first and only bottle-opening metal comb, visit their website www.oldfamiliarbarbershop.com.
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