STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — When Christian and Jeremy Schlagler decided to open a barbershop, they wanted the layout and design to be unique, something eye-catching and distinctive, like no other hair-cutting business in the five boroughs. So, they dug into NYC’s gritty, underground vibe and created an authentic subway-themed space.
Barber Station features authentic NYC Subway signs and seating.Owen Reiter
“Everyone takes the subway — no matter who you are or what your background is,” Christian Schlagler said. “And I think barbershops are very similar in that aspect. It’s common ground. That’s why we picked this theme.”
Featuring authentic NYC subway seating and signage, all purchased at the MTA’s annual pop-up shops, the Schlagler brothers’ one-of-a-kind business is best defined as a labor of love. The duo transformed the New Brighton space from a blank slate in just a few months’ time, laying out more than 4,000 mosaic tiles by hand and refurbishing the train seats before repurposing them as waiting room benches. They called the shop Barber Station and printed up its Jersey Street address in bold subway lettering.
“Everyone takes the subway — no matter who you are or what your background is,” Christian Schlagler said. “And I think barbershops are very similar in that aspect. It’s common ground. That’s why we picked this theme.”Owen Reiter
“I think the shop creates a full subway experience, making clients feel like they’ve stepped right into the heart of New York City,” said Schlagler, who handles the business side of Barber Station.
His brother Jeremy has worked as a master barber for more than a decade and manages all the clients with barber Brian Ayala by his side.
The shop officially opened for business last month.Owen Reiter
“It’s the perfect partnership,” Christian Schlagler said.
The shop, which officially opened for business in December, already has a solid following, and Schlagler noted that its social media accounts have exceeded 50,000 profile visits within the past 30 days.
The Schlagler brothers created this mosaic, which features more than 4,000 tiles.Courtesy Jeremy Schagler
“We get a lot of walk-in traffic, and the feedback has been great,” Schlagler said. “We’re already seeing the retention with customers coming back for a second and third cut — people of all ages and backgrounds. I think we’ve really built something here that’s worth coming to.”
For Christian and Jeremy, ages 29 and 27 respectively, the role of entrepreneur has been intense but rewarding.
“My brother and I are very hands-on; we built this business from the ground up,” noted Christian Schlagler.Owen Reiter
“This is our first brick-and-mortar and while there have been challenges, we are so grateful for the opportunity,” Christian Schlagler said. “My brother and I are very hands-on; we built this business from the ground up. Hopefully we’ll be able to expand upon the concept in the near future and bring Barber Station to other areas of Staten Island.”
Barber Station is currently open seven days a week: Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both walk-ins and appointments are welcome.
Barber Station is currently open seven days a week. Both walk-ins and appointments are welcome. Owen Reiter
New Businesses in Focus is a column that tells the stories of new Staten Island business owners. If you run a new business on Staten Island and would like to be featured, e-mail jgorman@siadvance.com.
Barber Station at a Glance
Address: 493 Jersey Street
Phone: 347-286-8851
Instagram: @barberstationllc
Facebook: Barber Station LLC