Pueblo barbershop in Union Depot transports patrons back to the 1930s

Known as the "beard whisperer," Nick Mischel is a throwback to another era.

Mischel is a master barber who finds joy in taming any wiry beard or unruly mane of hair. But the profession is more than that to him — it's what he calls "man pampering," the likes of which most men don't experience in the hustle and bustle of modern society.

His Gentlemen's Barbershop is Pueblo's only Prohibition-era barbershop, and it's ideally situated inside the historic Union Depot, 132 W. B St.

As soon as one enters the depot main entrance and approaches the shop, it's like a glimpse onto a movie set.

The shop's black-and-white tile floor, tin ceiling, historic photos and 12-foot-tall ancient wooden barbershop pole all harken back to the 1930s. Mischel's carpenter friend Craig Wilkie has trimmed out the shop's large mirror to match a historic photo that hangs in the shop.

The wooden barbershop pole was discovered at a Florence antique store, and Mischel had to scrape a hornet's nest off the top of it. Soon, Wilkie will add wheels under the heavy pole so Mischel can move it without a struggle.

The shop is a lot like those one might see in Europe, where "true gentlemen's grooming" lives on, Mischel said. Ironically, the first time he laid eyes on the space in 2016, it was a women's hair salon. He told a friend at the time he was going to have a barbershop there someday.

Mischel's own long white beard, neatly coiffed hair and attire of a collared shirt, neck tie and suspenders help transport customers back to the 1930s. In keeping with the theme, Mischel uses a straight razor (equipped with modern-day disposable blades) and scissors, a reclining chair and hot towels, just like the good ‘ol days.

Mischel has been a barber for 10 years, having found his true love of a profession after a much more stressful career teaching elementary school in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"I have a master's degree in education, and this is how I am using it," he said with a laugh. "This is so much fun and a lot less stressful – I don't have to test my clients or talk to their parents about their behavior."

Mischel's clients are treated to a wash, hair styling and a blow dry after each cut, which is expertly finished with the straight razor. His services range from a beard trim to a full-out beard treatment in which he uses a steamer to massage the beard to open up the hair follicles.

A glass comb and electric-current high-frequency Tesla machine help him open up the skin's pores because the skin under the beard is important, too.

"It's like a spa for the beard," he said. "It's very relaxing."

The treatment ends with a cold towel wrap. Customers often tell Mischel they notice the difference in their beards: There are no more dry, brittle whiskers and they don't need beard balm.

"He does a phenomenal job. He takes care of you, and there is nowhere else you can go in Pueblo to get as good of a haircut, in my opinion," said Tony Harper, a Parkview Orthopedic Center nurse anesthetist who has been a client for several years.

"The beard trim with hot towels is fun, and I never had that until I met Nick," Harper explained.

After 1,500 hours of barber school, Mischel also can camouflage a customer's gray beard, add curls with a perm or highlight hair. Customers and tourists alike delight in Mischel's historical Union Depot stories and he said he tries not to talk about the building's ghosts for fear of scaring off a few people.

He estimates 80% of his clients have beards but said the COVID-19 pandemic changed life for men with beards because wearing masks with heavy facial hair is not an ideal combination.

"We used to have a men's beard club in 2018 and 2019. It was like a social club, and we would meet at places like the Senate and the Clink," he explained.

Not only did the pandemic quash their social gatherings, it forced about 30 of the 40 club members to give up their beards, he said.

Mischel himself has a much shorter beard these days, but it still gets plenty of compliments when he goes out in public. The beard is a part of him he doesn't want to lose because he doesn't think anyone would recognize him without it.

The Gentlemen's Barbershop is open by appointment only so each client can get the time their experience deserves. Booking for clients or gift sessions, just in time for Father's Day, can be obtained on The Gentlemen's Barbershop Facebook page.

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email [email protected] or via Twitter attwitter.com/tracywumps.