Summer is really just a state of mind. So what the calendar says autumn today? It’s all about what’s in your heart and how you feel, and I don’t feel like it’s autumn today. Calendar be damned, we’re taking the Build-Outs for one last joy ride with a story we really love from Cincinnati.
That’s where two brothers—Austin and Tony Ferrari—are continuing the family barber business, outfitting a shop started in the 1920s by their great uncle and grandfather with a modern espresso bar that highlights local roaster Deeper Roots. We’ve featured the Ferrari brothers elsewhere on Sprudge for their charming Provender Coffee bar on Potrero Hill in San Francisco; now, some 2,300 miles away in Cincinnati, this is Ferrari Barber & Coffee Co.
As told to Sprudge by Austin Ferrari & Tony Ferrari.
For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?
Ferrari Barber & Coffee Co. is a barber shop with an espresso bar in it. We want to continue our family legacy that our great uncle and grandfather (who are brothers as well) worked hard to create in Cincinnati after coming from Italy in the 50s. They took very good care of their community, neighbors, and guests and had touched many people’s lives. We hope and wish to do the same, in reopening the shop. We believe good style, hospitality, and great coffee go hand in hand, why not combine them all. Come for a shave, come for a coffee, everyone’s welcome.
Can you tell us a bit about the new space?
The space actually isn’t new at all and that’s the beauty of it, it’s a timeless barber shop from the 20s that we just enhanced a bit and brought back to life. Then added a coffee bar, updated some of the utilities, cleaned the original marble and freshened up the paint. The original chairs were designed in Cincinnati by Eugene Berninghaus, the first barber chairs to ever recline and revolve at the same time. They will be occupied by professional barbers that respect and honor what our family has instilled. Its a shop to hang out at, share stories, drink coffee, get cleaned up, and meet your neighbors and admire all the memories. It is important to us to continue the life of this shop.
What’s your approach to coffee?
Our approach is to always keep things simple. Sometimes, people overcomplicate stuff and it becomes a lost art. What we are creating here is nothing new, since coffee has been around forever. But, we are creating a new space and vibe for the people of Cincinnati. We are using Deeper Roots Coffee Roasters which is a roaster based in Cincinnati. That] is the same approach we take with our San Francisco coffee shop Provender. There we use Andytown Coffee Roasters because they’re in the city and local, so we want to do the same here in Cincinnati. I think the same with food: If it surrounds you and is delicious, why not use it versus flying in products or ingredients from around the globe. Makes no sense in our eyes.
Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?
All white La Marzocco Linea Mini. All white Mahlkönig K30 grinder.
What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?
September 22, 2017 (hopefully)
Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?
Yes, we worked with our friend from Panafold Design in San Francisco. They helped us with some of the design. Our Mother Theresa Hill Ferrari is the contractor and hard work behind restoring the shop and making it shine again. Austin Durham with Durham Brand Company helped us with our logo. Deeper Roots Roasting for their amazing coffee.
Thank you!
Thank you for allowing us to do what we do and telling everyone. We really appreciate it and all the support in our small biz.
The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub.
Photos courtesy of Aaron Conway.
