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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 2018)
October 3, 2018 Minority & Small Business Week Page 9 Barber Opens Retro Shop Business start follows a passion for nostalgic D anny p eterson t he p ortlanD o bserver A local barbershop is bring- ing old school cool to the way they cut men’s hair. Classic Men in southwest Portland is a retro–style barbershop that delivers modern and traditional cuts in a nostalgic atmosphere. Started by Franklin Whatley, who is originally from Cleve- land, Ohio, the seasoned barber noticed a shortage of “barber nostalgia” at many shops—the classic stripped poles, badger hair shave brushes, and over- all vibe of debonair was slow- ly disappearing from modern day men’s grooming establish- ments. That’s when he discovered his niche and opened the shop back in 2016, providing men with a range of traditional and modern barber services in a suave and relaxing setting. Whatley, 37, told the Port- land Observer that an interest in haircutting came only nat- ural to him, coming from a large family where he was the youngest of seven barbers. “Three of my uncles owned barbershops. It was always a fun place, it was always some- thing I looked up to,” Whatley said. Wishing to duplicate the nostalgic feel of Will’s Bar- bershop in Cleveland that one by of his uncles owned, which he worked at for five years, What- ley created his own version in Classic Men. Terrell Brandon, retired NBA all-star who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, used to frequent Whatley’s fami- ly barbershop back in Ohio. Brandon, who is from Port- land, become a family friend and has known Whatley since he was 11. Brandon went on to open up his own barbershop in Portland on Northeast Alberta Street and enlisted Whatley to work there, where he honed his skills over the next decade cutting men’s hair. Whatley went on to teach at Beau Monde Academy of Cos- metology from 2010 to 2012. He would eventually enlist three of his star pupils, Ahmad Lewis, Taryn Jones, and Isiah Simpson, to help him run his shop. “I tell you man, those guys are great. I love working with them. It’s like working with friends,” Whatley said. “My business doesn’t run without them, they’re the back bone of it,” he added. The camaraderie is one sig- nature feature of the shop, Whatley said, where inside jokes amongst his employees, like throwing a “penalty flags” in jest for something out of line said in a conversation, leaves a big impression on customers. “Classic men barber shop is the kind of place that is not easily forgotten. You’re going to think about it for a couple of days,” Whatley said. When asked what advice he Classic Men in southwest Portland is a barbershop that brings a retro flavor to getting your hair cut. Taryn Jones (left), owner Franklin Whatley, and Ahmad Lewis use a relaxing, yet fun and camarade- rie-filled atmosphere to service men getting modern and classic ‘dos. had for up and coming entre- preneurs, Whatley warned they should be ready to lose and learn from it. Opening his shop was some- thing Whatley described as the hardest thing he’s ever done and emphasized passion as a major driving force. “You probably got to want it more than you want to breathe,” Whatley said. “You have to persevere,” he added. For fresh cuts and a cool at- mosphere, check out Classic Men Barbershop at 8735 S.W. Canyon Lane or visit classic- menpdx.com for more info.
