Mike has been the owner of City Barbers since 1972, bringing more than 25 years of professional barbering experience to the chair at 223 E 74th Street on the Upper East Side. He took over the shop with a clear mission: preserve the classic barbershop experience that generations of Manhattan families had come to rely on, while bringing sharper technique and a more personal touch to every service.
Over the years, Mike has built one of the most loyal client bases on the Upper East Side — many of his regulars have been in his chair for a decade or more, and more than a few followed him specifically when he took ownership of City Barbers. His reputation is built on precision and consistency: whether he's executing a skin fade, a classic taper, or a sharp shape-up, clients know the result will be exactly what they asked for.
Mike is particularly skilled with fades and tapers of all kinds, from low skin fades to high blends, and he has a trained eye for hairline symmetry that sets his line-ups apart. He works with all hair types — thick, fine, curly, wavy — and takes the time at the start of every appointment to understand not just the cut, but the lifestyle behind it. A quick consultation up front means a better result and fewer surprises.
Outside the chair, Mike runs the shop the way the best barbershops have always been run: on trust, accountability, and word of mouth. He hires carefully, trains his team to his standard, and stays involved on the floor every day. That hands-on ownership is a big part of why City Barbers consistently earns 5-star reviews and keeps clients coming back year after year.
If you're new to City Barbers and want to see what the shop is about, starting with Mike is never the wrong choice — he'll get you right and make sure you leave with a cut you're proud to walk out with.