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Plenty of New York hair salons pay homage to some kind of romantic idea of the past, but Persons of Interest, which just opened in Carroll Gardens, has a direct personal connection with the barbershops of yore.
Up until recently, the space was occupied by Giorgio Zocco, also known as Sal the Barber, who cut hair on Smith Street for years. Zucco passed away in April, leaving the storefront empty. "Many in the neighborhood thought that the old-fashioned shop would turn into yet another restaurant," writes Pardon Me for Asking. "However, local resident Steve Marks, who knew Zocco, had another idea."
Marks decided to give the shop a redesign that would make it attractive to the same people eating grandma-style meals at Frankie's and drinking historic cocktails at the Clover Club. With the support of Zocco's family, he added a series of upgrades, though he kept the barber's pole and chairs and retained the tropical wall poster in back. Then he hired barber/stylist Matt Southerland, and as of Tuesday the place was up and running. Head over to PMFA for more photos.
· "Persons Of Interest": An Old-Fashioned Barber Shop With A Modern Twist [Pardon Me for Asking]