Long Island Barber Brings Haircuts To Customers Via Mobile Bus

FARMINGVILLE, NY —When the coronavirus pandemic shut down barbers and hair salons, Mike Rizzo of Farmingville got creative with his barber business. Inspired by mobile dog grooming businesses, Rizzo thought of creating a mobile barber shop in a van to bring haircuts to peoples' homes.

Rizzo bought a passenger bus and outfitted it to be a complete barber shop on wheels. He removed all the seats, installed a chair, a waiting area and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game for kids.

"When coronavirus hit and people in my profession had been forced to shut down and stop working, I felt how I was going to do business going forward was going to change. I thought, I could get a big enough vehicle and set up a mobile barbershop and provide people with the convenience of traveling to them."

Even with barber shops back open, Rizzo is seeing a steady stream of demand for Get Chopped Mobile Barber Bus. Some feel safer in the van than in a shop with other people. Some customers are curious about the novelty of the bus, especially kids. Others just enjoy the convenience of having their haircut come to them.

Rizzo will travel to clients throughout Suffolk County. Only one customer at a time can be on the bus, unless it's a scheduled family appointment. He has no plans to return to the old model even if life goes completely back to normal after COVID-19.

"I have been cutting hair for over 29 years and as much as I loved being part of a shop, this is how I plan to continue doing business."

"Covid-19 has definitely changed peoples comfort levels with regard to how many people they are around. Kids love that I have a video game on the bus," he said, but the main draw that's keeping him busy is something that will continue to appeal even after the pandemic.

"Convenience is the reason many are calling."