Owners reveal new speakeasy barbershop in Pierce County that has a ‘cozy, lounge feeling’
A gentlemen’s shop in Gig Harbor, One:11, located at 3104 Harborview Dr., is preparing to offer haircuts in their newly transformed barbershop room.
One:11 opened about four months ago. The owners, couple Starr Hall and Bruce Hillenbach, told the Gateway back in September that they wanted to put some sort of speakeasy barbershop in the back. They also own Arch and Starr, a vintage furniture and goods shop around the corner. It opened in July.
The main room at One:11 is a shop for men. It has gifts, grooming tools, accessories, apparel, snacks and more.
Hall and Hillenbach just finished transforming the back room into downtown Gig Harbor’s newest barbershop.
Behind the big sliding barn door in One:11 are two barber chairs and stations. The couple told the Gateway they hope to start offering haircut appointments by mid February. They are interviewing a handful of barbers.
“We’re being particular about which barbers to hire,” Hillenbach said.
Hillenbach said customers of all ages are welcome. They’ll offer cuts, trims, hot towel service and straight razor shaves. They’ll also offer haircuts for women.
The space was formerly For the Love of Spice, which used the back as an inventory room. Hillenbach said it used to smell like saffron back there.
Now visitors walk in and get a whiff of the candles and cologne scents created by One:11.
When you take a step into the barbershop, as you look down you’ll see old school green marble vinyl tile. If you look up you’ll see the original wood beams of the building exposed.
“We definitely wanted to keep the theme of this old world industrial building look,” Hall said. “We also want it to be a cozy, lounge feeling.”
They have a foosball table that they’re considering putting in the back.
The barbershop room transformation took them about two months to complete, they said.
There are also a few new racks of apparel in the barbershop, Hall told the Gateway.
“Yes, it’s a continuation of the front room, but even more so an immersive setting where they can really just sit and take time for themselves,” Hillenbach said. “There’s not a lot of men’s stores in general. And we’ve had guys that will just come in and hang for a little while in this type of atmosphere.”
The couple feels they’ve filled a void for men’s apparel in the area, they said.
During the holidays they had women who came into the store to buy gifts for their husbands, dads, brothers, sons — all the men in their lives, Hall said.
The original idea for the barbershop was for it to also be a speakeasy for people to come hang and out and enjoy a few drinks in the back. Hillenbach has a masters degree in mixology. He won a few drink-making competitions at local bars when he lived in California, he said.
Hall said the liquor license process has been difficult. Although it won’t be a place for visitors to come and have a few drinks, they will offer one complimentary drink to those getting their hair buzzed or trimmed in the chair.
The barbershop will follow the same hours as One:11. For the winter they’re open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
One:11 invited the public to visit the shop Jan. 11 to enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres at a reveal event for the barbershop.
They’re still deciding what drinks they’ll serve when the barbershop opens. At the reveal Thursday, they had bourbon and a cocktail that has vodka, strawberries, basil, jalapenos, lemon juice and simple syrup.
Other business news
A store next to One:11 will close soon.
Gallery Row, a local art gallery, has a sign on their building stating that they’re having a sale before they close permanently.
Jan. 20 will be their last day.
Gallery Row’s website has further information about the closure, describing it as a retirement.
The owners of Gallery Row told Gig Harbor Now in September that an increase in rent “was not going to work,” for them. And that “most in the co-op are of the age to retire so they are not looking to find a new space.”
Gallery Row opened its first location in 1989 near Anthony’s at 8827 N. Harborview Dr. They moved to the building they are in now in 2002.
Visitors can get “many items at 50% off,” during their closing sale, according to their Facebook page.
“Some of our individual artists will still be creating and showing their work in other venues, so be sure to check our Facebook page to keep track of what is new with everyone,” the Gallery Row website said.
According to the hours on the website, Gallery Row is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Sunday they are open noon to 5 p.m.
This story was originally published January 11, 2024 at 2:29 PM.
