ATHOL — A classic style barbershop with all of amenities of an old-time shop with the technology and innovation of 2018.
Privilege351, a new barbershop on Main Street as of this summer, has provided downtown Athol with an authentic and personal experience.
The owner, Lenin Cabral, stresses the importance of giving his customers an outlet from the outside worries when inside the shop.
“I would like people to come through and ask me a question,” Cabral said. “Ask me about the news or the game last night. Like an old barbershop before all the technology. You come through and forget about outside.”
Every single customer gets the full precision treatment, this is no conveyer belt barber.
Looking for a fresh fade with a logo stylized on the back? Cabral and his staff can cover that. While the fade is an option for the younger crowd, the shop also offers traditional hair cuts along with hot towel shaves like old time barber shops.
“We do all types of hair cuts,” Cabral said. “We do the hot towel with the blade.”
Cabral, originally from the Dominican Republic and a current resident of Fitchburg, saw the site on Main Street and knew it was for him.
“I have a lot of friends and customers from Athol,” Cabral said. “I was talking with god to find the right place to go. I saw the sign and said this is nice.”
Cabral came to the United States in 2001 and started cutting hair when he was 14 years old and went to barber school in the Dominican.
Cabral stressed that the shop welcomes children with autism and will make modifications for their needs if necessary. Cabral has two cousins with autism.
“I know the struggle,” Cabral said. “Bring the kids to the shop.”
The sizable waiting area provides leather chairs and a flat screen television hooked up to Netflix programming along with Wi-Fi.
There are five barber chairs, a shampoo station and bathrooms. A dry erase board is used to sign in. Customers are served as they arrive. No appointments.
“This isn’t even 5 percent of what I want to do,” Cabral said.
Privilege351 caters to men and boys and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Regular haircuts for adults are $20, kids 10 and under are $10 while children between 11-15 are $15. Senior citizens are $10.
