At Mr. Figaro’s, A New Look For An Old Barber

The relaunched Mr. Figaro Unisex Hairstyling (1919 Avenue Z) opened on Sunday, with a flashy look and a slew of new services.

One thing noticeably absent? Mr. Figaro, a.k.a. Jerry May.

Well, that’s not exactly true. The old dog will still be around the shop, charming clients and talking about the good ol’ days, when he was a media darling known for belting out songs by old school performers. Figaro suffered a minor stroke shortly after the store’s ceiling caved in, and is not yet giving haircuts himself.

But he’s got a handful of help from several new barbers eager to lower the ears of Sheepshead Bay residents.

Following an overhaul that Sheepshead Bites previously mourned for watering down the store’s character, the shop is flashing a lot of new glitz, which Figaro’s son said is an evolution of the store’s place in a neighborhood very different than when it opened in 1977.

“It’s a 2010, hi-tech barber shop,” said Albert Mammon, Figaro’s son who dreamed up the renovation. Mammon decided it was time to up the ante and modernize the store to attract new clients. “I had to go with the new times. We’re going with the neighborhood changes, with the new sentiments.”

The store now boasts wi-fi connections and flatscreen televisions above each of the four cutting stations, as well as one large one for those waiting in line. At a client’s request, all the old video clips from newscasts that Mr. Figaro appeared in can be displayed (see video below), as well as digitalized versions of all the old photos of performers like Al Jolson and Frank Sinatra. They also keep photo albums packed with mementos of the storefront through the years, including their old newspaper clippings.

In addition to the new tvs, the store has a light projector that displays the emblem on the sidewalk outside, marble counters, hanging light fixtures, couches and computers. They’re also offering manicures and pedicures for both women and men.

“It’s filled with the same character and with the same ideas,” Mammon said. “We just went digital.”

Here’s a video of just some of Mr. Figaro’s media appearances: