Cleveland’s Historic Rockefeller Barber Shop: A Timeless Gem in the Warehouse District

The Warehouse District isn’t just known for its historic buildings—it’s also home to some of Cleveland’s oldest businesses. One such establishment is the Rockefeller Barber Shop, a staple of the district since 1937. Nestled on the second floor of the historic Rockefeller Building, this barbershop has a rich history that’s as captivating as the services it offers.

From Trolley Ticket Booth to Timeless Barbershop

When Rockefeller Barber Shop first opened its doors, its location served as a ticket booth for the trolley cars that once connected Cleveland. For the past 30 years, however, it has been the home of the beloved barbershop, which continues to thrive in the heart of downtown Cleveland.

Interestingly, the Rockefeller Building itself has a fascinating past. It was originally the site of one of Cleveland’s earliest hotels, the Weddell House. This hotel gained historical significance on February 15, 1861, when President Abraham Lincoln stayed there during his inaugural trip to Washington. Today, the spirit of Honest Abe is said to live on within the walls of what is now Rockefeller Barber Shop.

Meet Nick Hilf: A Barber with Deep Cleveland Roots

For the past 20 years, Ohio City native Nick Hilf has owned and operated Rockefeller Barber Shop alongside his trusted colleagues, Ray and Donna. Nick’s connection to Cleveland runs deep—his grandfather first moved to Ohio City in 1907, and Nick himself grew up in the neighborhood. He proudly describes himself as coming from a “true and true Ohio City family.”

Q&A with Nick Hilf

Q: How long have you been in the Warehouse District, and what drew you here?

A: I started working at Rockefeller Barber Shop in the spring of 2002. I chose Rockefeller Barber Shop because I wanted to work in downtown Cleveland. Lots of professional men. Lots of potential clients.

Q: Are you from Cleveland?

A: I was born and raised in Cleveland. Grew up in Ohio City. Went to Urban Community School, St. Ignatius High School, and Allstate Barber College. I love that I am able to walk or ride my bike and be at work within minutes.

Q: What services do you provide?

A: We provide all styles of haircuts. We are one of the only barbers that offers straight razor shaves and beard trims—a lot of shops don’t do straight razor shaves anymore. We also sell hair products and beard oils. We take walk-in customers and reservations. We definitely play to our strengths and have a lot of experience as a team.

Q: Have you had any noteworthy customers?

A: I have been cutting hair for close to 20 years at Rockefeller Barber Shop. I have cut an Olympic gold medalist, a Baseball Hall of Famer, and players from all major sports. I’ve also served musicians from major recording artists.

The majority of our customers are older men, a lot of attorneys who work downtown. In the last 10 years, we’ve seen more young professionals coming in because of all the new apartments downtown. We used to be busiest during the week, but now Saturdays are popular as young professionals from neighborhoods like Ohio City come in for a cut.

Q: What does working in a historic building signify for you?

A: The amount of compliments we get about the shop is amazing. Our entire shop is marble and we have 20-foot ceilings. You can tell the tile floors were all individually installed—just thousands of them. People come in and just want to take pictures of the place because of our floors and high ceilings, so that’s really cool. I love working here and being able to look out and see Terminal Tower and Key Tower, right in the midst of that skyline.

Visit Rockefeller Barber Shop

Rockefeller Barber Shop is more than just a place for a haircut—it’s a living piece of Cleveland’s history. Open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the shop welcomes both walk-ins and reservations. Follow them on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated on their latest offerings and experience a slice of Cleveland’s rich heritage firsthand.

https://www.instagram.com/rockefellerbarbershop

https://www.facebook.com/RockefellerBarberShop