Enrique Munoz has been cutting hair since he was 14 years old. Growing up, he always had a pair of clippers in his hands. Back in the 1990s, he bet on himself, moving his entire life from The Big Apple to Johnson City.
“There was many days that I didn’t have any clients. I just kept coming every day,” said master barber Munoz.
What You Need To Know
- New York Styles first opened its doors in 1999 as one of Johnson City’s only minority-owned businesses
- Enrique Munoz started cutting hair at the age of 14 in New York City
- New York Styles offers online appointments
When he opened New York Styles back in 1999, “Rico” was one of the only minority-owned businesses in the village.
He started off with a mostly minority clientele, but that later evolved to people of all backgrounds and cultures when word got out about the true talent he brought to the village.
“It’s about a lifestyle now,” Munoz said. “It’s not about white or black or Puerto-Rican or Asian or Indian. It’s about the culture of the art of barbering.”
Cutting hair now over 40 years, Rico has seen it all, and says things are always evolving.
“We’re living in an age of social media now so everybody looks towards their social media to get information of the trends that are going right now all over, not just New York City, but everywhere,” Munoz said.
As time goes on, New York Styles has turned into a family, with people coming from all walks of life, united by the art of a true, old-fashioned barbershop, with the skills of a true pro.
“I’ve cut the dad, the dad’s kids and now the kid’s kids are coming to me,” Munoz said. “In 22 years, I’ve seen children grow up into men and have their own children. So it’s really cool. I feel like I’m a part of everyone’s family.”
As a proud Puerto-Rican, Rico is proof that a minority-owned business can survive and even thrive for years to come.
To help cut down from exposures, the barbershop introduced an online reservation model which allows you to schedule a time, rather than waiting in line.
