It’s 10:45 a.m. on a recent Monday, and a line eight people deep has formed outside Revelry Barber & Shave Shop in downtown Fuquay-Varina. The doors open at 11.
Daniel Floyd enjoys a beer and a haircut by Revelry barber Austin Beck. A draft beer is included with every service.
“This blows our minds,” says Georgia-bred co-owner Mat Quiring, a former musician who opened the shop with his wife, Kelly Quiring, on January 2, 2018. “On Saturdays, sometimes we’ll see dozens of guys lined up by 10:15.”
What makes Revelry, which is situated in a prime corner property called the Mitchell Building, so wildly popular? Let’s just say it’s unlike any other barbershop in Fuquay, Holly Springs or anywhere else in Wake County, for that matter.
Billing itself as a traditional barbershop with modern amenities (more on that in just a moment), the shop operates on a first-come, first-served, walk-ins-only protocol. It’s not uncommon for the waitlist to exceed two hours during the busiest times of any given day.
“This is a venue that offers haircuts, craft beer and more,” the heavily tattooed Mat explains. “We feel like we’ve put together the coolest stuff possible under one roof.”
The aforementioned stuff includes a bottle shop, a tournament-grade billiards table, a Pac-Man arcade game, nifty grooming supplies for sale, banquettes for hanging out and a custom-made bar fashioned from a live-edge sycamore slab. The waiting area even boasts old-school theater seats that date back to the late 1930s.
Co-owner Kelly Quiring.
Such a cool place must have an equally cool backstory, right?
The Quirings married in 2014. A framed invitation to their wedding hangs in the shop and reveals that “the nuptials and the revelry will take place at the beautiful Highgrove on Laurel Lake,” located just up the road from their business. How fitting that the couple decided to open their outpost so close to where they tied the knot.
What started as a modest endeavor with two barbers quickly grew to a team of five (including Mat) providing classic haircuts, straight-razor shaves, beard trims and other grooming services. Kelly spends time greeting clients, overseeing the bottle shop and handling the finances.
“We just wanted to give guys the opportunity to come in and hang out, get a haircut and a beer and step away from whatever is going on outside,” says Kelly, a Cary native with 10 years of experience in hotel management.
Revelry is equal parts vintage barber, craft bottle shop and hip hangout.
For $20, customers receive a haircut, hot-towel treatment and a beverage.
Fuquay residents have stepped up in a big way to support Revelry, a fact not lost on its proprietors.
“It’s humbling to come up with an idea and have people totally embrace it,” Mat says. Kelly adds: “People in this town really do make an effort to frequent small businesses, and the community support has been absolutely incredible.”
Customers also drive from places like Apex, Lillington, Wake Forest and Fayetteville.
While Revelry’s typical clientele comprises adult men, Mat and Kelly have been surprised to see fathers and sons come in together as well as boyfriends and girlfriends on dates.
“There’s a camaraderie that happens here, and that’s largely due to our great team of people who create an environment that attracts people,” Kelly says, while eclectic folk-rock music plays overhead.
“Whenever I come in here it’s always really comfortable, and everyone is friendly,” says regular client Bryan Barbour, a local business owner who squeezes in a haircut during lunchtime.
No doubt the vintage vibe experienced at Revelry resonates with many, but so does the craft beer element.
“We run two beers on draft, and there’s always a local beer available,” Kelly says. “I also have five racks in the bottle shop, and we stock local options like Mason Jar, Bombshell, Trophy and Deep River.”
Non-alcoholic choices range from Cheerwine, lemonade and coffee to Cary-made Quinnger Ginger Beer and Bitburger Drive alcohol-free brew.
“We don’t really have bad days in here,” Mat says with a wide smile. “We take our time with clients, and we treat them as if they are in the most comfortable chair they’ve sat in all week. We don’t know where they were before they got here, and we don’t know where they’re going afterwards. But during the time they’re here, we offer them a great experience.”
Revelry is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Revelry Barber & Shave Shop
101 South Main Street, Fuquay-Varina
(919) 762-0365
@RevelryBarberNC
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