4 Questions: V.I.P. Cutz

Scan, long-time barber at , 77 Van Buren Street, at the corner of Throop Avenue, Bklyn, NY

Open 7 years.

Four Questions:

#1. What do you sell?

A: We cut hair, plain and simple. People come here for our shape-ups and creative cut styles. Everybody wants a shape up.

#2. To a customer: What brings you back to this V.I.P. Cutz?

A: “I just stay with him (pointing to Scan), because he’s always on point, he treats customers right, that’s why I keep on coming back. I’ve stayed with him a long time," saud Louisa, a woman getting a hair cut by Scan.

#3. From the perspective of someone who works in Bed-Stuy, what is your impression of business in Bedford-Stuyvesant?

A: Business has been good. The economy hasn’t changed business, it’s remained the same, because people will always need a hair cut. But we experience the same roller coaster as any other business—sometimes it’s up, sometimes it’s down. Weird people come in here sometimes asking for crazy cuts. My specialty is the shape up. But I’d rather show you than tell you what I can do.

#4. Can you share something interesting about yourself or the store?

A: We’re friendly, professional, it’s peaceful in here, like family (The store has two big screen LCD monitors and two even bigger aquariums).