Nestled in Ditmas Park’s Newkirk Plaza is Leon’s Fantasy Cuts barbershop, a historic barbershop owned by Leon Kogut. Leon stands like a king amongst old-fashioned red and yellow barbershop chairs, dozens of posters of haircut options, and a cheeky sign reading “I’m Too SEXY For My HAIR: That’s How Come It Isn’t THERE.” I instantly felt a sense of community in the barbershop, a family crossed through, and several passerbys stopped in just to greet Leon.

This scene isn’t at all new, as Leon’s Fantasy Cuts is “the oldest shop in the United States still operating,” Mr. Kogut proudly declared. “In March 1912, the shop was opened.” He points out a picture of the original owner proudly displayed on the wall above the large, old-fashioned cash register. “Then this guy John took over in 1952, and was here for 50 years. Then I took over from him in 1991…I’m part of a chain. Third in a one hundred and four year old chain.”

In the age of corporate chains, where it is becoming harder and harder to keep a small business afloat, especially in rapidly gentrifying areas of Brooklyn like Ditmas Park, Leon’s Fantasy Cuts is no small miracle. Some background: In 1910, two years before Leon’s Fantasy Cuts barbershop opened in Newkirk Plaza, Brooklyn, or Kings County, had a booming total population of 1,634,351, according to census data provided by the website social explorer. Now, Brooklyn is packed much more tightly, with a total population of 2,570,801 residents. The increase in residents and progressive commercialization of Brooklyn also affect the median income, which in Ditmas Park was approximately $4,000 in 1950, and $47,000 in 2014. Brooklyn is a unique borough, as its economic and cultural status has continuously increased. In 1976, the Urban Design Group for Brooklyn Planning published a text called “Newkirk Plaza Revitalization,” which exemplifies governmental push for change in Brooklyn, which has been continuous for decades (NYPL). With constant rezoning, which allows big corporations and chain stores to price out small business, Leon’s Fantasy Cuts certainly is a survivor, still standing in Newkirk Plaza, despite rising rents and rapid gentrification.

The fact that 7 Newkirk Plaza is a large, old-fashioned brownstone with space for residents and multiple businesses possibly gave the building an advantage, a weapon to fend off chain stores. According to The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Archives, the building has housed several small businesses as well as residents over the years. On February 12^th, 1923, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper published an ad for a “RARE CHANCE for a…hairdressing shop” at 7 Newkirk Plaza. Surely the editors had no clue that nearly a century later, the hairdressing shop would remain. Thirteen years later, on November 20^th, 1936, the same newspaper published an ad in the classified section for an “SALES GIRL, ATTRACTIVE, EXPERIENCED,” for a “HIGH CLASS CANDY SHOP” operating in the very same building as the barbershop.

According to Mr. Kogut, Newkirk Plaza is a true community, and it seems that the small businesses operating there all work in tandem to serve their customer base, which in 1920 was approximately 98 percent white, and in 2014 was 44 percent white, 34 percent Black or African American, 20 percent Hispanic or Latino, and 11 percent Asian. This change in residential demographic demonstrates the massive changes that have occurred in Ditmas Park alone. However, with rising rents, one must wonder whether the rates of diversity will continue to rise, or more likely, people of color with low socioeconomic status will be periodically pushed out, and the area will unfortunately cater to a whiter, richer population. Mr. Kogut himself reflects the multiculturalism of the area, as he speaks five languages—Russian, his native tongue, English, Spanish, Italian, and German—several of which he picked up to better communicate with his customers, with whom his rapport is astonishing.

Leon himself is a major tool in keeping customers happy. He immigrated from Kiev, Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union, thirty-six years ago, and is clearly a proud Brooklyn resident. “I’ve been in business for twenty-five years…three months to be exact, and seven days,” he easily recalled. He is not alone in his journey towards citizenship, as the recent trends in immigration to Ditmas Park are very interesting. In 1920, only eight years after Paul’s Barbershop opened in Ditmas Park, 33.214 percent of the white population of Brooklyn were foreign born. This number grew steadily into the 1960s, when about 50 percent of the white resident population was foreign born. However, then the trend of white immigrants decreased, possibly due to white flight in New York City. In 1980, a year after Ukrainian-born Leon Kogut immigrated to the United States with his wife and three sons, he was one of 23.8 percent of the total foreign born population. Upon being asked if he lives near the barbershop, he coyly responded: “I live about twenty minutes away, in Brooklyn…you want to come for dinner?”

Leon’s jovial attitude is contagious, and it pays off in regard to his customer base. Not only do “three, four generations” come regularly into his shop, but people travel far and wide to get a haircut or a shave, all very reasonably priced and clean. Leon is close with his customers, and extremely understanding. “People come in from all over the city. People who live in Long Island and work in Long Island, a lot of people from Queens. Sometimes they’re late, I mean they call me up, they’re supposed to be here by seven o’clock, its already 7:15, can you wait? Sure, no problem,” he says. According to Mr. Kogut, Newkirk Plaza is a true community, and it seems that the small businesses operating there all work in tandem to serve their customer base, which in 1920 was approximately 98 percent white, and in 2014 was 44 percent white, 34 percent Black or African American, 20 percent Hispanic or Latino, and 11 percent Asian. This change in residential demographic demonstrates the massive changes that have occurred in Ditmas Park alone. However, with rising rents, one must wonder whether the rates of diversity will continue to rise, or more likely, people of color with low socioeconomic status will be periodically pushed out, and the area will unfortunately cater to a whiter, richer population. Mr. Kogut himself reflects the multiculturalism of the area, as he speaks five languages—Russian, his native tongue, English, Spanish, Italian, and German—several of which he picked up to better communicate with his customers, with whom his rapport is astonishing. The pluralism in Ditmas Park is not only beneficial to the community, but likely helped boost the barbershop’s customer base.

He also contributes to neighborhood life daily, and this is mutually beneficial. For instance, rent (which is skyrocketing in many commercial areas of Brooklyn due to gentrification) has stabilized for Leon’s Fantasy Cuts because the landlord of the building is actually the previous owner, who is now an elderly man. “He doesn’t hurt me or nothing,” Leon said. “Besides that, I help him out. Changing a lightbulb in the hall, he can’t do that himself…I help him out.” Mr. Kogut is a figure in the lives of many in Newkirk Plaza, and he seems to genuinely love the people in the community. In response to a question regarding change in Ditmas Park, he said it has, but “for the better, now. The cops do a good job picking up there, the streets used to have drug dealers, there was a lot of crime…There’s still a crime,” he admits.

Not only is Leon an important figure in the Newkirk Plaza community, but he exemplifies the American dream, and his company demonstrates it. “It’s a very famous shop,” Mr. Kogut boasted, “We have a lot of politicians, moviemakers, superstars. Ray Liotta was here. Sarah Jessica Parker was here, Robert De Niro…Bill DeBlasio, he’s a friend of mine.” Mr. Kogut’s family have succeeded as well, and continue to make their father and community proud. One of his three sons was in charge of a group of the five best computer security technicians in the country. Leon even received a letter from President Obama after his son completed this job, thanking him for “raising such a nice guy to do this, and it was nice to hear that,” he reflected. Mr. Kogut’s youngest son, Marat, is a professional referee for the National Basketball Association, and spends time “hanging out with celebrities.” Kobe Bryant even invited Leon and his son to spend a weekend with him in the Hamptons, New York. When I asked, awed, how it was, Leon replied, “It’s always fun with Kobe. Very nice guy. A sweetheart. In the court, he’s nasty, even my son, he’s cursing at him, but after the game, he’s a good friend.”

Besides spending time with celebrities, Mr. Kogut is also making an impact for the future. The story of he and his “first” (and current) wife of forty-six years’ immigration is immortalized at the National Library of Congress, in Washington, DC, by the non-profit organization StoryCorps. They record the life stories of “people who reach something in this country,” Leon said, a beautiful testament to the power of immigrant-owned small businesses. “So my grandchildren… can read and hear my voice, some generations after me, will hear the story of how we immigrated. NPR, the radio, they call me and ask permission to play highlights of the story. Customers call me, were you on the radio? I say of course I’m on the radio!” Leon quips.

Ultimately, regardless of the sweeping changes in Ditmas Park, Leon’s Fantasy Cuts seems unchanged from when it opened one hundred years ago, at least in ethics. Mr. Kogut is happy to serve the community: “I started cutting hair because I like to make people happy, feel good, look good.” He proudly said that the best part of running the barbershop is the freedom that comes with being one’s own boss: “You have Freedom! Freedom to choose the workers, freedom for yourself sometimes, you know if you need an extra day, or to work longer, you know nobody tell you hey! We’re closed, that’s it, go, so I can stay longer with my customers.”   However, the dream of owning a small business in New York City is quickly fading, and Leon experienced this when he was hit with absurd $650 fines in 2012 by a city inspector “for using receipts from an antique register that didn’t bear the shop’s name,” according to the New York Daily News. Luckily, his friendship with then-public advocate, current city mayor Bill DeBlasio allowed him to cut the fines in half.

In a rapidly gentrifying Brookyln, Leon’s Fantasy Cuts, a small barbershop owned by Leon Kogut in Newkirk Plaza, seems to be a testament to the power of community. Leon’s, a wonderful neighborhood barbershop, was originally called Paul’s Barbershop upon its opening, and one can only imagine the monumental cultural and social changes that have occurred in the 100 plus years the small business has been operating successfully in 7 Newkirk Plaza, Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. Hopefully, despite rising rents and constant rezoning attempts, this barbershop will remain a living, thriving reminder of the power of small businesses—and community. If you need a haircut or a shave and you are anywhere in the vicinity of New York City, make the trip to Leon’s Fantasy Cuts in Newkirk Plaza. Not only will you receive a clean haircut or close shave, but you just may make a friend.

References

Durkin, Erin. “Newkirk Plaza Merchants Hit With Fines as de Blasio Pushes City to Ease Up on    Small Businesses.” The Daily News. Daily News New York, 25 April 2012. Web. 16 May         2016.