This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

Brookside Barber Shop is a family-owned, old-fashioned barbershop on 63rd Street in Brookside, Kansas City, established in 1919 and owned since 1989 by Suzanne Noland — at 107 years it is the oldest owner-operated barbershop found in the metro, a neighborhood gathering place that has preserved its early-20th-century look and is its original address’s only-ever tenant. 123

Description

Brookside Barber Shop is a traditional, family-owned barbershop located at 308 W 63rd Street in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri.1 The shop offers classic barbering services — haircuts and straight-razor shaves for men and boys (“ages 1 to 100”), as well as basic cuts for women and girls — on a walk-ins-welcome basis.4 It is staffed by roughly six full-time barbers and one part-time barber with close to 90 combined years of experience, and subscribes to long-standing barbershop principles: quick, affordable, neighborhood-entrenched, and service-focused.1

Established in 1919, the shop has deliberately preserved its early-20th-century character — it keeps an old-fashioned barbershop look and feel, displays historic photos dating to the late 1930s and an original period display case, and features a display of Brookside history.13 The business has been voted “Best Barber Shop in Kansas City” four years running.1

Ownership and history

Brookside Barber Shop has operated at 308 W 63rd Street since 1919, where it has been the address’s original and only-ever tenant.13 Current owner Suzanne Noland and her late husband Sonny purchased the shop in March 1989, after the prior owner, Glen Russel, passed away; Sonny had worked as a barber under Russel beginning in 1980.3 The Nolands were only the fourth ownership in the shop’s history. Suzanne became a licensed barber herself in January 1990. After Sonny’s death in 2005, Suzanne continued running the shop on her own.3

In 2019 — the shop’s centennial year — the Brookside Business Association named Suzanne Noland its honoree (“Mrs. Irish”) in the neighborhood’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, recognizing 30 years of her ownership at that point.3 Noland describes the shop as a community “gathering place,” likening it to the TV bar “Cheers” or Mayberry; one customer reportedly returned after 75 years and found the place unchanged.3

Sources

Disputes

None at this time.

Footnotes

  1. Brookside Barber Shop — official website, https://www.brooksidebarbershop.com/ — asserts: established 1919; served the Brookside community for 100 years; family-owned; preserved old-fashioned barbershop look and feel; display of Brookside history; voted “Best Barber Shop in Kansas City” four years running; ~6 full-time + 1 part-time barbers with close to 90 combined years’ experience. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. Suzanne Noland — Owner, Brookside Barber Shop (LinkedIn), https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-noland-3a765240/ — asserts: Suzanne Noland is the owner of Brookside Barber Shop, Kansas City. ↩

  3. Brookside Business Association — “Congratulations to our 2019 parade honoree, Mrs. Irish, Suzanne ‘O’Noland,’ owner of the Brookside Barber Shop,” https://www.brooksidekc.org/article/congratulations-our-2019-parade-honoree-mrs-irish-suzanne-onoland-owner-brookside-barber — asserts: Suzanne and Sonny Noland purchased the shop in March 1989 after prior owner Glen Russel passed; Sonny worked under Russel from 1980; Nolands were the 4th owners; Suzanne licensed as barber Jan 1990; located at 308 W 63rd St; original and only tenant at that address; historic late-1930s photos and original display case; Sonny died 2005; described as a community “gathering place.” ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  4. Yelp — Brookside Barber Shop, Kansas City (updated February 2026), https://www.yelp.com/biz/brookside-barber-shop-kansas-city; corroborated by business-directory listings — asserts: address 308 W 63rd St, Kansas City, MO 64113; phone (816) 523-9580; hours Tue–Fri 8:00am–5:30pm, Sat 8:00am–4:00pm, closed Sun–Mon; services (haircut, shave, haircut-and-shave; men/boys ages 1–100, basic cuts for ladies/girls); walk-ins welcome; active operating status. ↩

See also

  • Registry
  • _Tier1-Non-Service-Local-Businesses
  • Owner-And-History-Research-Toolchain
Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Brookside