Rudy’s Barbershop Opens at Ponce City Market

Along with your artisan cheese, baked goods, designer clothing and unusual Southern gifts, you can now get a sophisticated haircut, color and style at Ponce City Market at the newly opened unisex Rudy’s Barbershop.

First opened in Seattle in 1993, each of Rudy’s 25 shops in six states carries a distinct neighborhood vibe, says Brendon Lynch, CEO. “Each of our shops is entirely unique and designed to fit the community it’s in. So while our Atlanta shop definitely carries the soul and heritage of Rudy’s with it, it has its own feel meant to complement the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood and Ponce City Market,” he says. The markers of Southern influences in the PCM shop include salvaged church pews in the waiting area and floor-to-ceiling windows to enjoy the city view. The walls of the 1,477-square-foot space are covered with large mirrors and shelves lined with hair products. But to complement the urban scene and Atlanta’s strong music culture, Rudy’s at PCM also is decorated with collages of rock music artists from vintage magazines.

With seven barber chairs, Rudy’s welcomes walk-ins but encourages appointments, which can be booked online at RudysBarbershop.com. Services range from a buzz cut for $15 (which also includes shampoo and conditioning) to a blowout for $35 and color starting at $90. The shop carries grooming products for men and women, including brands such as Byrd, Bumble and bumble., (Malin+Goetz) and Rudy’s own eponymous brand.

Rudy’s shops cater to all clientele, from children and hipsters to punk rockers and retirees, explains Lynch. “We definitely see a lot of young, urban types frequenting our shops,” he adds. The national office in Seattle (the Columbia City Rudy’s in South Seattle is shown above) and the local Rudy’s staff look forward to getting involved in the Atlanta community, says Lynch, adding that each shop contributes to local charities and events. “We’re surrounded by outstanding brands and community partners that serve like-minded customers,” he says. “We’ve already made some fantastic connections with local brands and companies around our shop,” such as Dancing Goats Coffee and Citizen Supply.

“We’ve seen Atlanta as a perfect home for Rudy’s for quite some time. It’s such an amazing city, full of history and creative energy,” says Lynch. “We also felt there was a need in the community for a unisex, for-everybody barbershop like ours. Once we heard about the Ponce City Market space, we knew it would be a great fit for our brand.”

rudysbarbershop.com

STORY: Melanie Lasoff Levs