Parlor by Thompson & Company
Coralville, IA
Parlortco.com
Owners: Bobby & Kayla Thompson
Barbershop Style: Dapper, Timeless, Sophisticated
Square Footage: 1700
Stations: 8
Private Rooms: 1
Equipment: custom stations by Hodge Construction/Advanced Millwork
Furniture: Buy-Rite Beauty
Total Design Investment: $400,000
Retail Lines: B.O.B., Parlor by Thompson & Company
Color Lines: Oligo
Design by: Kayla Thompson
Architect: Emily Storm, Streamline Architects
Photographer: John Choate, Storyline Multimedia

With two established Thompson & Company salons in Iowa City and Crosspark, Iowa, Owners Bobby and Kayla Thompson had a new vision for their grooming concept. The salons had success with Parlor sections designed in the back of each salon, but the owners wanted a separate area where men could gather, sit in baseball-style seating by the beer cooler and TV, and enjoy their haircut.

The resulting Parlor is their first branch off the mother company. “We envisioned this space with our mission being U.N.I.T.E.D. for Union, Nobility, Ingenuity, Tradition, Elevate, and Design,” says Kayla. “To envision our design, we asked men what 'masculine' meant to them. We wanted to get back to the idea that the barbershop is not only a place to get your hair cut, but it’s a social event and gathering space as it once was in the past.”

To achieve this, the owners introduced features that are not incorporated in their salon locations. “Instead of having a beer cooler, we added a full-service bar,” says Bobby. “We have seasonal and traditional cocktails that all of our team members need to master. We partner with local breweries, liquor manufacturers, and even coffee distributors to get our community involved in creating the drink menu. We have a full liquor licenses, and host a Happy Hour F.A.C. (Friday After Class) in our college community that we rebranded to Fades and Cocktails. The bar also serves kiddy mocktails and root beer floats in classic diner glasses, so our underage clientele enjoy their own experience.”

Bobby Thompson gives you a personalized tour of Parlor by Thompson & Company: 

Other barbershop features encourage clients to use Parlor as an auxiliary workspace. “We have a circle formation meeting area in the front, a dining table, and a full bar stool area with access to outlets, so guests can plug in and use the barbershop’s WIFI,” says Kayla. “Between bar offerings and the workspace area, guests are even able to take a conference call.” 

Finally, the nostalgic décor and fun experience features enhance the Parlor experience, making it stand out from other local barbershops. “This includes animals mounted on the walls, deer antler chandeliers, custom arcade games, surround sound SONOS, an art installation of comic book covers, and a Wounded Warriors barrel that gets signed by those who serve in the armed forces,” Bobby shares.