Gitch Yer Swagger on

Or, my alternate heading: Why you should stop getting $13 haircuts at a chain salon in a strip mall.

I was on Caroline Street last week and found myself in front of Swagger, the cool barber shop ("haircuts and whatnot") with just the right amount of attitude at 40 Caroline Street across from D'Andrea's Pizza. (ADDED: Swagger has since moved to 15 Ballston Avenue across from Pizza Hut, Starting Gate Bar & Grill, and Strike Zone Bowling Alleys) 

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I knew I'd love the place the second I walked in.  In fact, I felt like an idiot for not discovering it sooner.  The wait at Swagger is 90% of the reason I will keep going there.  First of all, the music they play is more than just cool, it's just a great and unique mix and style.  I thought at first it was simply a Country/Southern Rock/Rockabilly mix, which itself would have been fantastic, but then I heard some Bee Gees and some vintage B-52's (pre "Love Shack", thankfully) and I knew I found my haircut home for the next few decades. 

  
If the music didn't sell me, then the decor, with great photos as well as movie and music related posters and other just cool stuff, would have done the trick.  Have I mentioned yet that the place was cool?  Finally, when my eventual, ummm I guess barber, Jenn (let's just say she's very different from the barbers I had when I was a kid, that's for sure), offered me a beer, I was in Caroline Street Utopia (at least Caroline Street afternoon utopia - later in the evening my Caroline Street utopia involves bars and even later it involves Esperanto, but I digress).  And it's not mainstream and wimpy Bud Light or Corona they offer - nope - Swagger offers Pabst Blue Ribbon and Schlitz beer - the same blue collar cheap stuff with a bite that I used to steal from my Dad 25 years ago.  Good brew, and it fits right in there.

 

Owned by Daniel Breen, who mans the other barber chair, Swagger is open Monday through Saturday from roughly 10am-7pm, with the exact hours a bit flexible depending on the number of appointments,  which are recommended (518-260-2112), but walk ins are welcome and they will do their best to fit you in.  Swagger offers haircuts ($18) and shaves (the "whatnot" I guess).  Jenn is also available to cut womens' hair, Dan sticks to mens' cuts and picking the music.  Oh and BTW not only was the experience great, so was the cut.  My boss says I look great - asks me if I'm losing weight.  Support your local cool business and go there soon!

 

Click here for a Saratogian write-up on Swagger.  Click here for some well written reviews on Yelp.

ADDED - The T-U's Saratoga Seen blog just linked this entry -  Thanks Christen!

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Comments

[Phil the Thrill]

Not that's how you run a business.

[speck boutique]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea this was in Saratoga and my husband will be all over this!

[Mr. Sunshine]

Sounds awesome, but I have one quibble, Dan: both Pabst and Schlitz breweries have been closed for a very long time. They just sold the brand names, which are registered in WI so they can keep the Milwaukee on the label. But neither is brewed in Milwaukee. Pabst, e.g., is brewed in Texas (maybe by Lone Star?).

[Dan]

Hey thanks Phil and Speck Boutique. Mr. S. - I guess we can be thankful that at least they're not brewing it in Mexico or China.

[Rocky]

It's always a great time in Dan's shop. Besides the PBR, you might get choc chip cookies--if it's a Friday afternoon. Keep it bro...

[Rocky]

Meant "Keep it up bro..." And maybe it's time Jenn cut my hair. What d'ya think??

[Rocky]

Dan's place is always a great place to spend some time and great treated well. Besides being offered PBR or a cold water, you might get choc chip cookies on Friday afternoon! Keep it up bro...

[Gabe Anderson]

Very cool! Love it.