Royal Class Barber Shop Upholds Family Tradition

When Alex Maftov opened Royal Class Barber Shop in Merrick nine years ago, he did so in the continuation of a long family tradition.

“I come from a long line of barbers. My great-grandfather, my great-great uncle, my uncle, cousins, my mother,” he said. “I came here from Russia about 25 years ago. I started in small businesses, owning my own shops. I bought my first barber shop in Manhattan when I was 16 years old. After a while, I sold that, came to Long Island, eventually found this location in Merrick and started from scratch.”

Royal Class immediately stands out among local hair establishments in the area, with its overall classic design and smartly-uniformed haircutters evoking a memory of old-school barber shops with a decidedly modern sensibility.

“We’re mostly known for our kid’s cuts. We have kid’s stations with special trucks they can sit in,” Maftov said. “We’re also known for our hot towel shaves – the best straight-razor shaves you’ll ever get.”

The top-tier among the various specials Maftov offers is called the Royal Flush, which consists of a hot towel shave; a facial scrub; a mask; and hot and cold towel treatments. But if you’re just looking for a simple trim, Maftov says his  team of hand-picked hair specialists can handle any cut you might require.

“All my barbers are professionals and have at least five to 10 years of experience each,” he said. “I started by myself, but I grew, and now I always have five to six barbers working each day.”

In an economy where almost every business is feeling the pressure of a consumer base that pinches every penny out of necessity, people still need their hair cut on a regular basis. But despite no shortage of places to get a trim in the area, Maftov said that Royal Class’ professionalism allows them to stand out.

“Business is phenomenal. My clientele is very good over here,” he said. “Merrick has a lot of competition, but there are many things that set us apart. The cleanliness of our shop; my old-fashioned barber chairs and every station has a television and free wi-fi internet use. There’s nothing we won’t do to satisfy a customer.”

In addition to hair, Maftov also deals in another precious commodity – gold.

“I have a counter in the store where I buy and sell gold,” he said. “I buy a lot, and I sell a lot.”

Capitalizing on the success of his Merrick shop, Maftov opened up a second location in Bellmore about a year ago, aptly called Royal Class 2. However, when it comes to his reputation, he said that he just lets his scissors do the talking.

“We don’t advertise because the best advertising is word-of-mouth,” he said. “The people of Merrick are wonderful people and we want them to come in and try us and if you come in and try us, we guarantee that if you’ve tried the rest, now you’ll try the best."