Royals Barbershop owner, Brandon Armstrong, with his employees Julio Vazquez (left) and Stephen Wapniewski (right) at their 317 Ellicott Street location on Thursday morning’s family and friends celebration
In honor of Black History Month, Royals Barbershop, the only black owned barber shop in Genesee County, has rebranded and has now hired two current barbers, Julio Vazquez and Stephen Wapniewski. Royals Barbershop now also accepts credit/debit cards with a new reception area where customers can use the new cash register pay system.
Royals Barbershop owner, Brandon Armstrong, held a celebration event at the shop at 317 Ellicott Street in Batavia on Thursday morning for family and friends.
“We’re transitioning our barbers from booth rental into W-2 employees,” says Armstrong.
“I’m trying to create something that is going to keep them here, to be able to eventually offer some type benefits for them. In the industry, usually what happens is most people that do hair or are barbers or stylist do booth rental. That makes you a 1099 employee, which means you work for yourself. Then what happens is your pretty much running your own business, so you have to keep track of your own taxes, your own inventory and supplies, whatever you need. A lot of times, everybody is not built to be an owner and what happens is a lot of people get to a certain point and they don’t want to do it anymore, they want a secure check, they want benefits, so they end up quitting and taking a pay cut and they end up going and finding some place where they can have these things.”
Armstrong says this is big deal within the industry. He says most barbers and stylist look at the job as a side hustle to get to the next thing, not a career.
“I don’t know if there are many places in Buffalo or Rochester doing employees like this, they’re pretty much all booth rentals. It’s very rare you get something like this.”
Armstrong has been in the barber business since 2015. He started City Styles on the corner of Ellicott and Liberty, then he took a few years off. Royals Barbershop has been operating at 317 Ellicott for about three years. Armstrong says his family and friends have always supported his efforts.
“I wouldn’t have got this far in the business without my family.”
In the next four weeks, Armstrong plans to add two women who have a specialty in braiding, dreads and natural hair.
“I have a space in the back that I am renovating. There is nobody that does that within 35 miles.”
Armstrong says Royals has the most experienced barbers in the area.
“We have a nice atmosphere, very clean, very welcoming. We do a great job at what we do. People feel comfortable, they feel welcome. We’ve never had places that we feel comfortable to go to and felt welcomed when we go there, so we make them feel that, you know customer service.”
Vazquez and Wapniewski like the environment at the Royals.
“Its way better than any other job,” says Vasquez, who has been barbering for about 6 years. “We got the best cuts in town.”
“I like the environment, it’s better than a 9-5 job,” says Wapniewski.
Armstrong has also implemented uniforms at the shop.
Appointments can be made through Google, Facebook, Instagram or by calling 585-536-6576.
Royals does accept walk ins.
Facebook Link below to Royals Barbershop at 317 Ellicott Street in Batavia, NY
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