Go Local

Avenues Barber: Keeping Men Handsome for over a Century

Ben operates his one-man show out of a small shop on 3rd Avenue. The location opened in 1915 as a barbershop and has always been one. At one point, in the 1920s, it operated as a barbershop by day, and at night, was home base for the Utah Communist Party. While the political atmosphere of…

|


Ben Paul, owners of Avenues Barber. Photo by Mike Jones.

I am sitting in a large old-fashioned barber chair in Ben Paul’s shop while he runs a set of clippers over my head. “I really didn’t think I would end up cutting hair,” Ben says. “I went to get my hair cut at this hole-in-the-wall shop in Sugar House. It had such a cool vibe and was such an honest experience that it left an impression on me. I went home and talked to my wife, and later my mom, who also does hair. Not long after that, I enrolled at The Barber School.”

Ben operates his one-man show out of a small shop on 3rd Avenue. The location opened in 1915 as a barbershop and has always been one. At one point, in the 1920s, it operated as a barbershop by day, and at night, was home base for the Utah Communist Party. While the political atmosphere of the building has changed since then, one thing has stayed the same: you can still get a killer haircut at a great price.

Ben’s mother operates a salon attached to the back of the barbershop. “My mom owns the building and has been running the salon for the last 32 years, so when I graduated from The Barber School, I moved into the barber space,” he says.

In a day and age when the barbershop is making a comeback, Ben’s shop is one of the more unique additions to the craft’s return. “I wanted to be my own boss and work in a relaxed environment. It’s been great, I have made a lot of friends and had the opportunity to meet and talk to so many different kinds of people and, of course, help people look their best.

Avenues Barber is located at 566 3rd Avenue, Salt Lake City. Open Tuesday thru Saturday, 11:00 am–7:00 pm. To make an appointment, visit their website, or call 801-300-9594.

,

Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.

Related Articles


  • The Story of Rosa’s Cafe from Ogden, Utah

    Faced with a devastating loss, one Ogden Restaurant owner persisted.


  • Salt Lake City Boxer Seeks to Win WBC Latin Championship

    Brandon Douglas, at age 30, is a contender in the World Boxing Commission (WBC) featherweight division (127 pounds). He turned pro six years ago and after a qualifying match on May 13 in the Bahamas, he seeks to win the WBC Latin Championship Belt later this year in Mexico.


  • The Food for Families Project

    Volunteers work at Village Cooperative Gardens in exchange for produce. Shares also go to homeowners in the neighborhood and families in the community


  • The Legacy of Johnson Farms

    “Progress” threatens the 100 year legacy of Johnson Farms in Cache Valley. But the family is determined, switching from a dairy farm to more profitable produce farming.