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>This barber’s knuckles bear the words “Outa Luck” in block letters and his tattooed neck pegs him as “Cuthroat.” But Brian Schwartz says he’s no Sweeney Todd wannabe or some Demon Barber of Main Street. Rather, the owner of Chopper’s Old School Barbershop at the corner of Main and Mine streets (in Flemington NJ) says his business, with its throwback style, is a way for him to resurrect the dying art form of barbering while giving local men a place to congregate and freely talk politics, sports or anything else. “I’m old fashioned. I’m not politically correct. Anything goes in here – speak your mind,” Schwartz said recently. “I think the American public has gotten soft. Guys need a place like this to come and voice their opinions.” There’s nothing soft about Chopper’s.

No appointments. No coloring. Just cuts and shaves. And that’s it. A large photo in the shop captures Johnny Cash flashing a middle finger and others showcase hot rods and motorcycles. One print, by the comic artist Tyson McAdoo, features a buxom woman standing in knee-deep mud as she clutches a shotgun and whiskey bottle. The drawing is appropriate for a guy who isn’t shy about announcing that he could close the shop on a whim to fly-fish for trout, and who welcomes conversations about hunting deer or shooting guns.

The shop’s tag line, “The way your grandfather intended,” is also fitting for Schwartz, whose own grandfather made his life’s work as a barber in Philadelphia. And the name Chopper’s, in a single word, blends barbering, the popular term for custom motorcycles and a longtime nickname Schwartz has held. Schwartz, 34, switched from styling women’s hair to start Chopper’s, which took the place of a tobacco shop and opened in late 2006 after months of renovation. He has generally shunned advertising, and one attempt to get the word out through a local church flier ended when a mother complained that his shop contained a copy of Playboy. So instead of paying for exposure, Schwartz said he has built a diverse client base through word of mouth, solid techniques and a welcome atmosphere.

Schwartz serves men only and can generally zip through a cut in 10 minutes. He also promotes haircutting as a family affair by offering the trifecta price special for fathers who also have two sons in need of a trim. Tonic treatments and hot shaves also are available, as are a variety of traditional grooming supplies. The conversation, of course, doesn’t carry a price tag.

“The banter. The friendships you make. I like to talk to people,” Schwartz said when asked to explain the favorite part of his solo business venture. “It stops becoming a job after a while. It’s a lifestyle. This is my social life.”

Source: Brandon Lausch at blausch@mycentraljersey.com.