Written by: Amber Barkdoll
New Men’s Clothing Store and Barber Shop Opens in Downtown Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa’s newest men’s clothing store and barber shop, Marcus and Beatty, opened its doors on May 4.
Owners Sam Morgan and Trey Umfress say their store is unique to Tuscaloosa because the vision for their shop comes from a heart for the community. Morgan says that even though the shop caters to men’s goods, he wants it to be a place where anyone can feel welcome.
“I think sometimes when you think of barber shops and men’s mercantiles, it’s this off-limits, no-women-allowed space, but we’ve really seen these past few weeks that it is the opposite of that. We’ve had whole families coming in, spending time, and hanging out,” said Morgan.
In fact, Morgan and Umfress purposefully included a comfortable sitting space to encourage shoppers to spend time talking and building relationships with each other. Morgan says, “For us, it was so important to have that place where a man can come and sit. We have vinyl where you can put on a record and grab a drink. We want men to feel like this is their space, and they are not just going to be ushered through the store.”
Morgan and Umfress also wanted to provide residents with unique, quality merchandise that reflect their eclectic, Southern style. They offer brands such as Whiskey River Soap Co., Loyal Stricklin, Bandit, Deus Ex Machina, and Surf Side Supply. In addition to these clothing and accessory staples, Marcus and Beatty sells a wide array of gifts such as hand-dipped bourbon glasses, candles, jewelry and cards.
In choosing the products, Morgan says that he is intentional in learning about each company. His goal is to offer clothing pieces that will last. An example is the Loyal Stricklin selvedge denim pants that are made in Nashville, Tenn. These pants, Morgan says, are quality pieces that can last for years. Another factor that he considers when ordering merchandise is the story behind that product. The Bandit bandanas offered at Marcus and Beatty are designed and sold to benefit a variety of charitable organizations.
“Almost every product in here has a story. I can tell you on a lot of these [products] the names of the people who are touching them and putting them together. That is what we want this space to be—a collection of stories,” Morgan says.
Though Morgan and Umfress do offer their products online, their ultimate desire is to bring back the benefits of a brick-and-mortar experience. Marcus and Beatty is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are located at 2124 9th St. in Tuscaloosa, Ala.