Few business ventures last long enough to attain “community treasure” status, and even fewer leave the kind of legacy created by Wilbert “Chill” Wilson, the late founder of Mr. Chill’s First Class Barber Shop.
Wilson opened his first storefront in Broadmoor in 2004. It was unfortunate timing in an unfortunate location given the extensive flooding that area experienced following Hurricane Katrina. Despite this disaster, Wilson was one of the first barbers in the city to resume serving customers — cutting hair on the street in front of his destroyed business.
In search of another location, Wilson received assistance from an unlikely source: Aidan Gill, proprietor of arguably the most high-end tonsorial establishment in the city. While their approaches to their field could hardly be more different, the respect was mutual, and Gill alerted Wilson to the availability of the current establishment at 2736 South Carrollton.
Gill was also the one who began calling Wilson “Mr. Chill,” spawning the name of the relocated shop.
After Wilbert Wilson passed away in 2019, his widow, Joyce Wilson, became owner and operator. The staff of four barbers has stayed on; all have been with the Wilsons for a decade or longer, with one even going back to before Katrina.
“We are full service here,” said Wilson. “Along with haircuts, we do facials, hot towels, shaves and everything. We specialize more in male customers, but the women come in too.”
Moving a neighborhood business from one neighborhood to another can be risky, but Mr. Chill’s combines longtime, dedicated customers with new clientele from nearby neighborhoods such as Leonidas and Black Pearl. The shop’s visibility on Carrollton Avenue draws walk-ins from the surrounding area, many of whom become regulars.
Indeed, “managing walk-ins when the barbers are all booked is one of our biggest challenges,” Wilson observed.
This is especially true when major events such as Mardi Gras or prom season are looming, and bookings and walk-ins increase. Consequently, Wilson does little marketing beyond a bit of social media, relying instead on word of mouth for most of her business.
“People also look up barbershops on Google, find us, see the reviews, and come on in,” she added.
Like any other business dependent on in-person customers, Mr. Chill’s struggled to survive the pandemic. However, “As soon as the COVID mandates were lifted, people started calling,” remembered Ferrand. “We saw people who hadn’t had haircuts in months.”
Mr. Chill’s provides patrons with more than just a haircut.
“It’s the barbershop experience,” explained barber Josh Ferrand, who has been on staff for 16 years. “We have conversations, educate people while they are in the chairs.”
An essential part of Wilbert Wilson’s legacy is that he took this common feature of his field much further. He initiated several mentoring programs, not just teaching young people the trade, but, in his widow’s words, “Teaching people how to do things for themselves, how to make their way in life.”
Mr. Chills First Class Cuts Barbershop 2734 S. Carrollton Ave. New Orleans // 504-861-7530
mrchillsbarbershopnola.com // @NewOrleansBarberShop
@mr.chillsfirstclasscuts // @barbershopnola
