Monmouth Co. Barber Shop Named Patch Business Of The Year

FREEHOLD, NJ - “Welcoming and kind.” “Always clean.” “Best barber shop. Owner and staff and absolutely incredible!”

Last year, Patch asked local readers to name their favorite spots around Monmouth County to eat, shop, play and look their best. The readers have spoken, naming The Handsome Man barber shop as a 2020 Patch Business of the Year.

“They really know how to make their clients feel like A-list celebrities. I’ve never known a place that goes so above and beyond to be part of the community and always be there for clients,” reads one nomination for the Freehold-based shop.

“I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me from the beginning of my career. It has taken many years to get to this point,” owner and operator Michael “Buddy” Rogers told Patch. “Whether you have visited only once or still continue to come, I am grateful for every person that has stepped into the shop. If you have yet to come, I look forward to the opportunity to provide an outstanding service for you to experience.”

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The road to success for the Elton Adelphia Road site has not been an easy one, according to the owner. The location first opened its doors on April 29, 2019, less than one year before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered hair salons for months. The Handsome Man remained closed for nearly 100 days, marking a devastating blow for the new business, Rogers said.

“It was a hard hit being only open less than a year. The guidelines sent down from the state have slightly changed the way we do things,” Rogers said. The owner reports a swift transition in June to appointment-only and limited capacity hours, although rigid sanitization has been one constant throughout the history of his business.

Even before news of the virus became widespread in March 2020, Rogers reports following a strict cleaning schedule mandated for all shop employees: “We clean the shop, our tools, and regularly practice good hygiene regardless of this virus going around, so not much has changed in that area. It is part of our job, our duty, to ensure the safety of all patrons at all times, especially regarding communicable disease,” Rogers said.

The owner largely attributes the success of the business to community support, especially in terms of generous tips to his barbers. Rogers says the entire team is immensely grateful to its trusted regulars and new customers alike, and can easily accommodate those still hesitant about virus spread with with off-hours cuts and shaves.

“All of the words on [our] wall are characteristics that I feel are a good representation of what a ‘Handsome Man ‘ is all about. The quote on the wall “Service to others leads to greatness” is one of my favorite quotes. Jim Rohn said this and I truly believe in it,” Rogers added.

And what does the owner hope all his customers walk away with?

“Confidence!,” he said. “It is our slogan here at ‘The Handsome Man’. It is important to believe in yourself, to trust in yourself. This all starts with feeling good about you. After a visit to our shop, you will absolutely feel groomed, pampered, ready, and ‘Handsome’!”

For more information about The Handsome Man, visit www.thehandsomemanbarbershop.com.