New State College barbershop offers whiskey-infused services with a personal touch
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- The new Whiskey Barber Salon is open at 135 S. Pugh St. in State College.
- The barbershop offers select whiskey-infused treatments, including hot towels.
- The shop received support from State College’s new Retail Launch Assistance Program.
A new salon in downtown State College is working to elevate the typical barbershop experience.
The Whiskey Barber Salon is now open at 135 S. Pugh St. beneath the Scholar State College hotel, offering a wide range of hair-trimming and beard-grooming services for customers of all ages. The barbershop, complete with western theming and whiskey-infused treatments, hopes to stand out as a destination for customers seeking more than just a haircut.
“We’re not a rushed, in-and-out shop,” owner Tanya Campbell told the Centre Daily Times. “Every client gets our full attention. It’s about precision, consistency and creating a look that actually works with your lifestyle.”
The shop’s standard haircut is a “complete grooming experience,” according to a brochure, that includes a precise cut, a clean-shaven neck, shampoo and conditioner treatments, eyebrow trims and a hot steam towel for $35. Children’s haircuts start at $30, while other cuts, including scissors- or razor-only haircuts, are available for $37.
The Whiskey Barber Salon also offers beard-trimming, eyebrow-waxing, hair-coloring and scalp treatments. Luxury add-ons include steam facial treatments and charcoal peels, among others.
Like its name might suggest, the barbershop features offers whiskey-infused hot towels and a number of whiskey-related products, including Duke Cannon soaps and shampoos made with Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey. Customers getting their hair cut can enjoy a complimentary refreshment, including Vitamin Water, Bai water, Canada Dry ginger ale or even a small glass of whiskey.
Campbell said whiskey paired well with visions of a high-class barbershop.
“When you think ‘whiskey,’ that’s what people expect, right?” she said. “We’re doing our best to source products that go with our brand and style. Any kind of oak or deep, dark wood, whiskey and things like that.”
The barbershop began services in early April and will celebrate its start with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1. The shop’s had its custom sign installed earlier this week.
So far, its team says clients have enjoyed the new approach and the connections that come with each visit.
“The best part of my job is making connections with people, getting to know them and getting to catch up when they come in every month,” salon professional Cassie Poorman said. “It’s about making them feel heard, giving them what they want and paying attention to detail. Taking a little extra time to really listen to somebody can pay off. You want to get what you came for and a good, quality haircut, but the connections will keep you coming back.”
The Whiskey Barber Salon hopes to help its clients feel comfortable spending their time in the shop, according to Campbell and Poorman, who likened the atmosphere that of a nail or beauty salon.
“We’ve all been places where you’re not treated like a person, but instead just someone paying for something, like a dollar sign when you walk in the door,” Campbell said. “It really is about connections and the community and how you see people, not just what you’re doing for them.”
Customers can make appointments online. The barbershop is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Starting a business
Campbell, a licensed cosmetologist, has extensive experience as a salon professional and managed a shop for 15 years before opening her own as a first-time business owner. She credited a new program with helping her get the Whiskey Barber Salon off the ground.
The new shop is the first recipient of funds through the Retail Launch Assistance Program, which helps first-time brick-and-mortar businesses with design, permitting and build out work, as well as startup costs. The program, funded by the State College Borough Redevelopment Authority and administered by the Downtown State College Improvement District, offers up to $15,000 in dollar-for-dollar matched funding for qualifying businesses.
Kendra Kielbasa, the improvement district’s retail and commercial business advocate, hopes the Retail Launch Assistance Program will continue making a difference in State College as it aids more up-and-coming businesses.
“It’s really fantastic when we can take a new business owner through the process and see the hurdles they need to overcome and remove barriers and offer support where we can,” Kielbasa said. “It’s really rewarding.”
Campbell said the assistance program helped her team avoid some major expenses as it worked toward opening the Whiskey Barber Salon. More importantly, it helped her feel integrated with State College’s business community as her barbershop takes a major leap.
“It’s not just about the funding,” said Campbell. “It’s more about the relationships and connections you build with the local community — being able to foster those relationships moving forward and really elevate State College and its downtown district.”
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