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A visit to Truefitt & Hill,
whether it's for a trim, a
facial or a massage, is the ultimate in being pampered
Relaxing in Style |
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By Bob Foltman
Tribune Staff Writer
In these increasingly politically correct times, Truefitt & Hill
stands apart. In this age of unisex everything, Truefitt & Hill
services men-only men.
Kirk Merchant isn't trying to be sexist or
discriminatory, that's just the way he runs his shop.
Merchant is the owner of the Truefitt &
Hill shop, on the sixth level of the 900 North Michigan building, as
well as the North American rights to the company's venerable name.
"We provide a service that is unique to
American men," Merchant says. "No one does it better than the British."
"It" is cutting hair. But there's more to
Truefitt & Hill. It is a sanctuary for the harried executive. A
place where a man can go and get a shave, manicure and shoe shine, and
maybe catch a few winks at the same time. Truefitt & Hill is a
salon for men. A place to be unabashedly pampered-for a price.
"This is a barber shop that specializes in
services for men. Services like hot lather shaves," Merchant said.
"Walk into a unisex salon and ask for a hot shave and they'll say,
'It's $2.50.' hand you a razor and tell you to go over to the sink."
The pampering traditi on started in 1805,
when Truefitt & Hill began making wigs for King George III. Ever
since, Truefitt & Hill has billed itself as "Barbers to the British
royalty," and has cut the hair of every male member of the royal
family.
Merchant bought the rights to the Truefitt
& Hill name and opened his shop, the only other Truefitt shop in
the world-the London shop is the world's oldest-in December, 1989.
Merchant has come up with various pampering
packages; the most lavish offers a one-hour private body massage
(through the health club at the Four Seasons Hotel), a hot lather
shave, and herbal steam facial, haircut, manicure, pedicure and a
shoeshine. Total tab: $270. This isn't the corner barber shop where
guys gather to moan about the baseball strike.
In fact the silence that often descends on
Truefitt (except for the classical music and snip of the scissors) is
welcome to customers.
"Women got to the salon to catch up on the
gossip," Merchant said. "Men come here for relaxation. That's what I
sell here-relaxation."
It isn't surprising that about 95 percent
of Merchant's clients are repeats. There isn't much walk-in business
for $35 haircuts. But Merchant offers n apologies or excuses.
"This is the most expensive area of the
city. That is going to be passes along to the customer. But we fell we
provide servers they can't get anywhere else."
Chicago Tribune, Jan. 12, 1995
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