Gone are the days of sitting in uncomfortable chairs while flipping through magazines. Tampa has a new kind of haircut experience to look forward to — one that allows them to sip on specialty cocktails and light up a cigar. That's the idea behind The Bourbon Barber, a high-end barbershop doubling as a bourbon bar.
Preparations took close to a year. But Mark Gochenour and Dan Clark's combination concept, which originated on a golf course, is now open at 7522 N. Armenia Ave., previously home to The Cave Nightclub near Seminole Heights.
"We did want to stay in touch with the Seminole Heights community," Gochenour said. "One, I've lived in Seminole Heights for 15 years, and it is such an up-and-coming area. If you look at some of the new establishments that have been popping up all over the area, the idea behind having a bourbon-themed bar sort of fits the demographics."
The Bourbon Barber occupies more than 3,000 square feet — 1,200 of which is dedicated to an outdoor cigar lounge that showcases four styles of cigars and live music a few times a month. Featuring leather couches, industrial lighting and tables fashioned from bourbon barrels, the shop itself is a welcoming, rustic environment where any client (this newcomer isn't just for men) can land a custom cut, fade or beard trim. Customers are in good hands, too, as head barber Eduardo Velez has more than 15 years of experience in Tampa Bay.
The bar focuses on bringing in a wide selection of craft beers and one-of-a-kind drinks. Choose from taps featuring local breweries like Coppertail Brewing Co., Angry Chair Brewing and Stilt House Brewery, or opt for a signature cocktail like the Fleet-Street Old Fashioned — coffee bourbon with black walnut bitters served in a cedar plank-smoked glass.
"All of our juices are fresh and pressed on a daily basis," according to Gochenour. "Our ice is built specifically for The Bourbon Barber out of a company from Gainesville, so they bring us the clear-cut cubed ice and clear sphere ice."
Food trucks, cooking everything from burgers to Latin cuisine, will soon join The Bourbon Barber on Fridays and Saturdays. The shop also plans to host a monthly bourbon, bacon and barbecue brunch to pair a variety of bites with different bourbons.
Ultimately, with industry deals on Sunday nights, plus discounts for active military members and veterans, Clark and Gochenour hope to create a place that offers everyone a sense of community.
The Bourbon Barber's barbershop side operates 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Bar hours extend until midnight Tuesday through Thursday, until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.
This article appears in Nov 9-16, 2017.