City Cuts Barbershop

In an area known for Pennsylvania German, folk festivals and funnel cakes, finding a place to get an urban-style haircut isn’t easy. Jonathan Escueta feels your pain. During a recent stint at Clyde’s Barber Shop in Allentown, Escueta frequently heard the rumblings from area college students.

“A couple of students told me that they had to drive back and forth from Allentown just to get a haircut,” said the 20-year-old Allentown resident. That, coupled with Escueta’s desire to work for himself, led to the November opening of City Cuts Barbershop in Kutztown. The store specializes in what Escueta calls haircuts from center city, with features that include buzz cuts, close trims, fades and sharp-angled facial hair. When stepping into City Cuts’ leased storefront, it’s immediately apparent that it’s a far cry from a traditional barber shop. A couch and loveseat face a wall-mounted, flat-screen television, which is hooked to an Xbox. Copies of hip-hop-themed magazines XXL and Vibe share a table with the National Basketball Association-centered Slam. A Nerf basketball hoop hangs above the two barber chairs. But that focus appeals to many of the shop’s customers.

“I think it’s just the young age,” said Keith M. Andrews, 24, of Kutztown, who frequents the shop for a haircut and a beard trim. “To me, it seems neater than going to other barbers. He’s got a nice setup. He’s got video games for people, movies, and the flat-screen TV doesn’t hurt.”

Dylan Murphy, 15, has been a fan of Escueta since his days at Clyde’s. “I like what he does,” said Murphy of Whitehall Township, Lehigh County. “I don’t know of many other people who know how to do a fade.” Escueta, who worked as a bartender in Whitehall while getting his barber’s license, is getting some assistance with his business plan from the Kutztown Small Business Development Center. He is City Cuts’ only employee, but said he’ll hire more if the shop gets busy enough. “Right now, the clientele is mostly from college,” he said. “The feedback has been good.” But the compliments haven’t been only from college students. On a recent afternoon, Peter M. Keegan, 50, stopped in to check out the place. “I like to go to local businesses, and this is a new shop,” the Kutztown resident said. “And no matter what happens, the hair will always grow back.” “He’s right,” Escueta said, carefully shearing, eyes glued to Keegan’s head to keep his joke from coming true. No worries. A few minutes later, mirror in hand, Keegan said: “I like it. Looks good.”