BUSINESS FEATURE Doug’s Barber Shop Heights shop carries on legacy of beloved owner
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ D oug Dreher may have died in 2020, but his legacy lives on in his namesake barbershop on East 11th Street in the Heights, where the walls are adorned with pieces of his life. The building that houses Doug’s Barber Shop has been in operation in some capacity since around 1929, said current owner Je Armstrong, who took over from Dreher in 2014. Of the six barbers who work there now, the longest-tenured has been on sta for more than 25 years, while the shortest has been around for seven years, Armstrong said. “One of the things I’m most proud of is how little turnover there has been since I took over,” he said. Doug’s o ers all the traditional barbershop ser- vices on an appointment and walk-in basis, though appointments are preferred, Armstrong said. Because the guys on sta have such a broad range of ages, they collectively know how to cut hair to the style of any era, Armstrong said. “The older guys tend to want their hair cut a certain way, while younger guys might be looking for a fade,” he said. “We have guys who specialize in di erent styles.” The walls are strewn with memorabilia from Dreher’s life, including photos, iconic newspaper covers, comic strips related to barbering and items from Ohio, where Dreher grew up. Armstrong said he felt compelled to leave the items up in honor of Dreher, who he said played in instrumental role in making the shop what it is today. What Dreher brought, and what Armstrong said he looks to continue to create, is a sense of commu- nity, where everyone feels like they belong. “I really enjoy making people feel like they are at home when they come in,” he said. “There is no pretentiousness in here.”
Doug Dreher (right) appeared in a photo series in Todo Texas magazine in 2007. This photo is one of many that hang on the walls of the shop. (Photos by Shawn Arrajj/Community Impact Newspaper)
Doug’s Barber Shop 219 E. 11th St., Houston 713-862-0670 www.dougsbarbershop.com Hours: Mon. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Tue.-Fri. 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. MEET THE TEAM Doug’s Barber Shop employs six barbers, the most recent of whom joined the team in 2015. LEONARD MORGAN - Cutting since 1958 DON WILLIS - Cutting since 1970 JEFF ARMSTRONG - Cutting since 1986 (Became owner in 2014) DICK STEMPFLEY - Cutting since 2002 RAMIRO CERVANTES - Cutting since 2003 SAM CISNERO - Cutting since 2006
Je Armstong rst joined Doug’s Barber Shop in 2002. He returned in 2012 and eventually became its owner in 2014.
E. 20TH ST.
45
N
The Marvin Barish Right Start program provides tuition vouchers towards the cost of a Jewish early childhood education. Families enrolling their first child in a program for the first time are eligible to receive a voucher ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. Right Start MARVIN BARISH Learn more and apply at houstonjewish.org/rightstart A PATH TO JEWISH LEARNING
22
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook