Meatloaf's the Name, Chopping's the Game

He builds custom motorcycles, cuts a mean fade and gives back the money he earns to help feed the homeless.

Jeffrey Scales, aka “Meatloaf Scalissa,” is just your friendly neighborhood, laid-back, round-the-way Bed-Stuy guy—nothing special, yet, special in every way.

From his barber shop, Domoliek’s Upscale Grooming Salon, located at 416 Tompkins Avenue, you’ll find Meatloaf busy at work either cutting hair, cleaning up the shop, running in and out handling a bevy of odds-and-ends, or just sitting quietly out front chatting with his neighbors.

Meatloaf opened Domoliek’s six months ago, after closing another barber shop location on Nostrand and Putnam avenues, which he ran for 17 years. He says he loves the new location on Tompkins Ave.

“It’s beautiful over here, the foot traffic, the trees,” he said. “It’s just totally different than Nostrand; it’s more home-y, more down to earth.”

Meatloaf started in the barber business 28 years ago, when he was 13 years old. He used to clean up a barber shop on Nostrand Avenue, sweep the floors, take out the garbage.

“As I was cleaning up, I just paid attention to what was going on,” said Meatloaf. “And then I started asking questions. Then, finally, I asked if I could get a job cutting hair. But the owner was worried and felt there was too much going on.’”

So he cut hair on the side for his friends until another barber shop owner finally gave him a job. Meatloaf thrived as a barber. And when he was old enough, he took a second job at the Department of Sanitation, where he worked for the next 17 years.

After a few years at Sanitation, he was able to save up enough money to buy a house in Bed-Stuy. He also opened three businesses along Nostrand Ave., including buying the very barber shop location that refused him his first job!

Today, aside from running his “grooming salon” business, and his custom bike shop, Rockboy Choppers, Meatloaf loves to organize give-backs to his neighborhood.

This past Thanksgiving, Meatloaf, a member of 500 Men Making a Difference, paid to charter a bus from a homeless shelter to Brownsville, where his wife and mother had prepared free dinners. He has organized toy drives during Christmas. And currently, he is about to launch his newest effort with a group of local barbers to provide free hair cuts to nursing home residents.

“This is my community,” said Meatloaf, in the most matter-of-fact manner. “I love this community. And when you love something, you give back to it.”

Domoliek’s is open Monday through Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.