(Posted Sept. 29, 2023)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Tino Perez has moved his barber business across the street to a larger, more modern storefront with space for other independent barbers to work, as well as room to expand into more retail sales.
For the past eight years, Perez owned the Mug & Brush Barber Shop at 125 S. Main St. in London. The 250 square-foot space has a long history as a barbershop, starting in the mid-1940s with Ed Geer at the helm. Geer sold the business to Dan Eades in 1972, after which Eades and partner Phil Henry cut hair for 44 years. Perez took over in 2016.
Perez said he got the idea to move after seeing the renovations being made to storefronts in downtown London by Westwood Collective, a Hilliard-based development company. A newly renovated, 1,300 square-foot space at 116 S. Main St. is his new home. With the move, Perez changed the name of his business to The London Barber Exchange.
“London is growing. I wanted to get with the times, be more modern, and grow with the community,” he said.
He noted that there is a big need for men’s grooming in London.
“I want to be the place where independent barbers can come and find clients. That’s where the ‘exchange’ in our new name comes in,” he explained, adding that he already has a few prospects interested in renting space at his shop.
Perez offers hair cuts and beard trims for men and hair cuts for boys, all by appointment. Appointments can be booked online at www.thelondonbarberexchange.com or by calling (740) 852-1101.
Perez also sells razors, shaving cream, hair gels, and shave and beard oils. He has plans to expand his retail offerings into what he calls men’s hard goods–t-shirts, hats, glasses, other men’s grooming products, and the like.
“The new space gives me a way to explore other avenues for my business,” he said.
