Get To Know Grand: Groomers & Pomade

Get to know Groomers and Pomade! Groomers and Pomade has been on 796 Grand Street since 2018, but they’re not the first barbershop to call 796 a home; A barbershop used to exist in the same location in the 1940s! The same tile floors from the 40’s are still installed, and are part of what drew owner Nando Velez to open here. An avid collector of vintage barber shop memorabilia, it was a perfect match. Vintage combs, chairs, barber poles, and other memorabilia fill the shop with a unique old-fashioned yet modern vibe.

Vintage barber chairs and a pole

Nando has been collecting vintage barbershop chairs, poles, and other items for as long as he can remember. He often takes trips to Upstate NY, in search of new finds. His passion for vintage barber memorabilia is apparent all throughout the shop; Chairs from 1888 sit atop the second floor of the shop, next to a restored barber pole from the 60’s. Nando ripped the walls and ceiling out when he opened up, revealing exposed brick. Every aspect of the shop’s aesthetic contributes to an old-fashioned, yet modern vibe.

A barbershop on 796 Grand Street, 1940

Nando takes his craft as a barber as seriously as he does his shop’s appearance, saying he “Sees barbering as a career, not a side hustle.” And it shows in their work; Groomers and Pomade offers many premium services on top of cutting hair, including lather shaves, essential oils (eucalyptus is his favorite), and much more. Visit Nando or one of the other four barbers at Groomers and Pomade for your next haircut.