COVID-19 was almost responsible yet again for the end of a historic NYC business, but thanks to some generous New Yorkers this one will live on.
Astor Place Hairstylists, which is a third generation family-owned business in the East Village, told multiple news outlets that they would be permanently closing down due to lack of business last month. The brother owners, who took over the barbershop and hair salon from their grandfather, said that business was still down almost 90% after reopening and they can’t pay their rent.
“We tried to make a go of it,” owner Paul Vezza told ABC 7. “We need more than this to cover the expenses and the money. It flows out like water.”
But luckily, some New York investors stepped in at the last minute (the store was supposed to close this week) to keep the barbershop running “for another 75 years at least,” according to the New York Post. Financier Jonathan Trichter told the newspaper that he and other investors like Howard Wolfson, Jefrey Pollock and Jeff Gural all came together to save the place they’re been getting their hair cut for years.
The barbershop was a go-to for locals in the neighborhood, and was also known to be visited by celebrities from Robert de Niro to LL Cool J to artist Keith Haring. Our own Mayor de Blasio also went there for a cut during Phase 2 reopening in NYC.
Though they had made a GoFundMe page — reiterating that it was not to raise enough money to save the shop but rather to help send their hard-working stylists off with some extra funds — now they won’t have to worry as they’ll be able to support their staff for years to come!
featured image source: Instagram / @astorplacehairstylists