DETROIT – What if there was a place where you could not only get your hair cut, but rub shoulders with famous musicians, athletes and businessmen to find out how they got their start? Well, there's a barbershop for men and women in Detroit that's making that possible.
"We wanted to create kind of a community hub where we can have all different types of people no matter what race, no matter what gender, sexual orientation, no matter what religion, you can come and get a haircut, hang out and get to know each other," said Social Club Grooming Company owner Sebastian Jackson.
Jackson opened the Social Club in 2012. It quickly became known for its top notch haircuts. Through conversation with clientele from all different backgrounds and professionals an idea was born.
"People have been looking for a platform where we can have unfiltered conversation about things that are going on in our community about dreams that we have or aspirations that we have," said Jackson.
He calls it Shop Talk.
"The Social Club is a barbershop that impacts community through events like this," said Jackson.
Shop Talk is a panel discussion series hosted by the Social Club every month. The panelists are local, or sometimes global, individuals who share their business success stories while getting their hair cut in front of the barbershops regular customers. The goal is to meet others and be inspired to achieve your goals all in a social setting: the barbershop.
The barbershop was packed for the most recent Shop Talk event. One of the panelists was Niles Heron from the Birmingham-based company Michigan Funders.
"We're an equity based crowd funding platform specifically targeting Michigan based business that are looking to raise between $50,000 and $2 million," said Heron.
Heron's company helps other startup businesses or even established companies raise money they need through local investors. He found that having a conversations with other aspiring Detroiters at Shop Talk benefits everyone in the community.
"The point of it is the social engagement, is the social interaction, the community support and the community discussion," added Heron. "You have these awesome opportunities to really have meaningful discussion and to really get diverse points of view."
And while business is doing just fine for Jackson, his customers leave satisfied with sharp haircuts, he has a whole lot more to be proud of.
"I think I'm more proud of, you know, Shop Talk being able to connect people," said Jackson. "I think that's what the community really cares about. It's Shop Talk that really has people like ‘Let me get some free information on how to become who I want to be based on somebody who's done it."
Some of shop talk's former panelists include Detroit Lions player Joique Bell and soul singer Dwele.
Jackson hopes to have businessman Dan Gilbert as a future panelist and client.
The next Shop Talk event is scheduled for July 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Social Club Grooming Company -- located at 5272 Anthony Wayne Dr, Detroit, MI 48202, or call 313-832-4950.