Pedro Williams: Hip New Barber Shop Opens in Downtown Durham, NC, Designed by The Raleigh Architecture Company

Raleigh, NC, June 18, 2015 --(PR.com)-- The Raleigh Architecture Company (RACo) has completed the design and build-out of the third Arrow Haircuts location – only this time in Durham and under the name “Pedro Williams.”

Owners and brothers Pete and Andy Phipps opened their newest location earlier this month in the old Wells Fargo building at 624 Ninth Street, following the success of his first two shops: one in Raleigh’s Cameron Village shopping center, the other on Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh.

Andy Phipps describes the concept for all three locations as “old-style neighborhood barber shops with great customer service” that also happen to serve free beer and display racks of locally made products for sale. He sees them as alternatives to national chains and expensive salons.

Their locations underscore that intent.

“Most hair salons want spaces in shopping centers or strip malls that they can up-fit in two weeks,” architect Robby Johnston, AIA, co-owner of The Raleigh Architecture Company, noted. “Andy and Pete want to be part of the urban fabric, to support local retail, so their shops end up in old buildings and odd spaces that require a lot of work but turn out to be really interesting and unique.”

The Cameron Village shop is located in a space that was occupied by a barbershop from 1966 until Arrow moved in. The Hargett Street location housed Capital City Barber Shop for 80 years starting in 1931.

The 900-square-foot Durham location proved the most challenging of the three, according to RACo co-owner Craig Kerins, AIA. “It was in very poor condition and hadn’t been maintained. The space was sort of a leftover section of the building and hadn't been treated well over the years.”

Nonetheless, Pedro Williams features all the RACo-designed elements that define the Arrow brand, including the central bar; the use of raw, exposed finishes (plywood, concrete, and galvanized conduit); the stylists’ stations arranged down a long, continuous bar; red metal tool chests for the stylists' tools; and the red, white, and blue color scheme inspired by vintage barber poles. The aim was friendly, familiar, and hip. Achieved.

So why the name “Pedro Williams” instead of Arrow? Pete Phipps describes it best here: guaranteedshorterhair.com.

For more information on The Raleigh Architecture Company, visit www.raleigh-architecture.com.

About The Raleigh Architecture Company:

The Raleigh Architecture Company is an award-winning design-build firm specializing in Modern sustainable architecture, and craftsman-quality construction. As licensed architects and general contractors, we consider designing and building to be one integrated process. This streamlined approach empowers us to meet our clients’ economic expectations and to seamlessly execute high quality details, both small and large. Our office and shop are located under one roof in downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District at 502 S. West Street. For more information visit www.raleigh-architecture.com, call 919-831-2995, or email: info@raleigh-architecture.com.