Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Astor Place Hair Gets Sheared
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 15, 2004
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 15, 2004
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The rising rents in the Astor Place area have caused the owners of Astor Place Haircuts to reduce the size of their famously cheap salon. Astor Place Haircuts will now just be located in the basement, the ground level's 1,000 square foot space will be a Cold Stone Creamery. The Vezza family who has owned Astor Place Hair since 1940 as well as two other salons will still have 9,000 square feet in the basement, with Enrico Vezza Jr. saying, "We lose the eye level of the people passing by, but as a businessman I think it pays for us to be down here." Newsday reports that ground level storefronts in the Astor Place area go for $100,000 a year (!!); Newsday also adds that Vezza declined to name his landlord, noting that Vezza wanted to keep their relationship amicable.
Astor Place Haircuts charge $12 for a man's haircut, up from 25 cents when it opened. The WB fans will remember it as the place where Felicity got her hair cut very short (some say that show jumped the shark at that moment). Gothamist has been fond of the Astor Place area ever since we worked on Wanamaker Place, aka 9th Street. There are four Starbucks within three blocks, ensuring NYU and Cooper Union students are sufficiently hopped up, plus the Mud Truck, as well as the wonderful Japanese bakery, Panya, sake bar, Decibel, and the 24 hour Crunch where we'd shower if our bosses let us out for a break. Ah, those were the days.
Tagged
astor place
bar
city
cold stone creamery
cooper union
gothamist
hair
headlines
Jr.
new york
new york city
News: NYC
NYU
people
starbucks
The WB
transportation
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
New apartments are coming and there’s nothing these 12 neighborhoods can do to stop it
The Mamdani administration released a list of 12 community districts subject to a “fast-track” housing approval process first initiated by his predecessor.
By
David Brand
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 12:05 a.m. ET
Man fatally stabbed on J train in Queens, NYPD says
A 59-year-old man was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said a person of interest was in custody.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Man fatally stabbed on J train in Queens, NYPD says
A 59-year-old man was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said a person of interest was in custody.
By
Giulia Heyward
NYC delivery workers fear e-bike bills would bring more police stops, racial profiling
By
Carol Chen
Fake QR codes on Manhattan parking meters lead to identity theft charges
By
Charles Lane
Fare hike for NYC Ferry going into effect next month
By
Elizabeth Kim
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .