Fellow Barber Cut from Detroit Retail Space to Accommodate Shinola Expansion, Brooklyn-based Salon Chain Says Closure is Permanent

With floors reclaimed from an old Detroit office building and men's haircuts starting at $40 (shaves for just $50!), Fellow Barber's arrival in the Motor City this February was met with rah-rah headlines and snide disbelief. This week, the shop closed, and its owners offered a press release saying the Detroit outlet would not reopen. Fellow Barber failed to earn as much as anticipated and decided to give up their 441 W. Canfield storefront to neighbor Shinola. Shinola in turn plans to use Fellow Barber's space for expansion.

Proud Detroit son Jack White had a hand in the closure—he's partnering with Shinola to open a Detroit branch of his Nashville record store Third Man Records. That business will occupy Shinola brand Willy's old space, and Willy's will take Fellow Barber's so that both of Shinola's exclusive ventures are in the same location.

Fellow Barber CEO Sam Buffa told the Detroit Free Press he doesn't regret the chain's time in Detroit:

"We love Detroit and we were glad to be a part of this burgeoning area of the city while we were here, but we are also glad for Shinola and their growth and acquisition of the building we share with them,"

Fellow Barber had just obtained a state liquor license for the West Canfield property, planning to add a lounge. Perhaps Shinola will use the building's license and add a lounge so that their target demo can compare bluebird tattoos while shaking it to Mumford and Sons? The expanded Shinola/Willy's shop is set to open in late 2015.

·Some Brooklyn-based Barber Shop is Opening in Midtown [Metro Times]
·Headline: Celebration [Daily Free Press]
·Fellow Barber Closes [Metro Times]
·Cute Dress [Willys Facebook Page]
·Shinola's Midtown Location [Blog Michigan Advantage]
·Headline: Celebration [Daily Free Press]
·Shinola [Shinola]