Writing for TheBurg, I’ve had some interesting experiences.
I’ve gotten friendly with a few hungry goats; enjoyed some great beer; hung out with some bands passing through Harrisburg on tour.
This time around, I was ushered in, plopped into a chair, lathered up and given a haircut and a shave.
Mind you, not just any haircut, but one that would impress a 19th-century dandy, one reminiscent of a bygone era, a throwback to a golden age of men’s styling. Currently operating out of the historic Pancake Mansion in Harrisburg’s Shipoke neighborhood, Chops Barbershop’s rustic wooden floors, rich colors and walls displaying traditional grooming products immediately reminded me of the “Portlandia” sketch called “Dream of the 1890s.”
Chops himself looks the part, and his technique and approach to his craft also recalled a time when a barbershop offered a brief respite of pampering to men of almost all economic classes.
The thing is: I wasn’t really even there to visit with Chops (or the shop’s two enthusiastic Boston terriers, Tank and Lucy). I primarily was there to see Ashley Merris, Chops’ partner in business and life and the owner of the American Gentleman Soap Co.
It was a soap story I was after.
Sudsy Start
You really can’t separate the story of the Soap Co. from that of Chops, since they’ve long been connected.
“We started in a ‘homebrew’ group called ‘Addicted to Pomade,’ where we developed our signature hair product,” said Ashley. “We also needed a good shave soap for the shop. Since both turned out well, we decided to sell our pomades and soaps, along with beard butter and mustache wax, about two years ago. We are a little different from most ‘homebrewers’ because we have the barbershop as well, so we have a great place to test and sell our products.”
However, the American Gentleman Soap Co. has moved well beyond its modest, hobbyist roots. Despite being listed exclusively on Etsy.com (an online store and network of sellers of crafts, handmade products and art), wholesalers began contacting Ashley. The wholesale market now connects the company to an international customer base.
“Beyond most of the country, we have our products being sold in Indonesia, and we’re entering into a partnership with beard enthusiasts in Poland,” she said.
The concept of Polish beard enthusiasts struck me as odd enough, but it was the success in Indonesia that I felt needed further comment.
She responded with a shrug, adding, “Our pomade stands up well in the heat.”
Even as Ashley’s company blossoms, it is impressive that production still remains, quite literally, “in-house.”
“We make everything in the kitchen,” she said. “Production takes place during the week, whenever I have time. I use the stovetop, a double boiler and our pomade kettle. Everything is very simple.”
This is part of the appeal. Everything can be produced at home because every product boasts a short ingredient list.
“Our products are very simple. We put a lot of good stuff in it. Organic whenever possible. And we have vegan pomades that don’t contain beeswax.”
Ashley’s wholesalers often request large orders, leaving her and Chops struggling to keep up.
“We are definitely going to need to hire someone in the near future to help us fill all the orders that are coming in,” she said.
Traditions Live
As Ashley talked, with Chops occasionally chiming in, I tried to focus on the experience.
Conducting an interview while getting a haircut is certainly a challenge. Before long, we transitioned to a shave, meaning it was time for me to be quiet and let the man with the straight razor work his magic.
As Chops lathered my face with their signature shave soap, I was struck by the scent. In fact, the longer I sat in the chair, the more I realized that this might be the greatest appeal of the American Gentleman Soap Co.
I was instantly transported to fond memories of my childhood, when I would go to the neighborhood barber for a summer buzz cut. I remember having my prepubescent neck and sideburns superfluously shaved then patted with talcum powder. As I sat in Chops’ barber chair, awash in nostalgia, I wondered why we men abandoned these classic smells in exchange for the garish, hyper-masculine odors of Axe and Old Spice.
Chops spun me around to face the mirror. My face was smooth and my hair markedly shorter. I was very pleased as I stood up and brushed some residual cut hairs off of my shirt. Customers had begun to come in, and I feared that I had occupied the chair a little longer than expected, forcing Chops to run behind schedule for the rest of the day.
But, as I thanked my gracious hosts and made my way back to my car, pomade and shave soap samples in hand, I was grateful for the opportunity to travel back to my childhood when men’s grooming had a class and subtlety that I fear has been lost in this age.
And I was equally grateful that, between the American Gentleman Soap Co. and Chops Barbershop, these traditions are being maintained right here in Harrisburg.
Chops Barbershop and the American Gentleman Soap Co. are located at 331 S. Front St., Harrisburg. Call 717-379-5993 or visit www.chopsbarbershop.com. You can find the Soap Co.’s products at numerous sites online, including www.etsy.com.
Chops and Ashley also are raising money to move into a permanent home in Harrisburg. You can locate their fundraiser and contribute at www.gofundme.com/chopsbarbershop.
