After helping classmates sharpen their fade in the Lockport High School locker room at age 16, Marcus Hamilton’s barbershop will be recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Buffalo District Office as one of five exceptional Western New York small businesses next month.
Marcus the Barber and Associates, LLC, in Newfane, was formed through Hamilton’s close work with the Niagara Small Business Development Center and a Microenterprise Assistance Grant of $25,000. The funding allowed him to grow from barbering part-time in his basement while working full-time at General Motors, to opening his shop at 2911 Lockport Olcott Road in 2024 and renting chairs to other professionals.
With guidance from SBDC Director Maureen Henderson, Hamilton said he completed a strategic plan, made financial projections, formed his LLC, and rented and renovated his shop space.
“The larger space enabled the business to broaden its services and better serve the community following the retirement of several local barbers,” said Victoria Reynolds, director of the SBA’s Buffalo Office.
Matt Tomaino, a fellow barber at Hamilton’s shop, said the business has nearly doubled in the past two years and has a pretty loyal following. Customers come from as far away as Williamsville, Clarence, and Lyndonville, Tomaino said.
Hamilton said he would soon be moving to a still larger space in the same plaza where he can move up from five chairs to seven, creating a shop with three stylists, four barbers, an aesthetician, a braider, and a tattoo artist.
When he learned of his award, Hamilton said he cried.
In establishing his barbershop, he said, “It went fast and more successful than I had pictured from the beginning.”
After 25 years of barbering, Hamilton said he now gets special requests. He said he excels at working with kids with disabilities, and he does house calls for disabled kids who struggle with having their hair cut.
On Wednesday, Hamilton said he had completed 18 haircuts at the Recovery Center of Niagara in Newfane, where clients are on an every other week hair-cutting schedule. He is also a contractor for providing haircuts at a nearby nursing home.
“I get calls from social workers,” he said. “I got a contract for the Lockport School District.”
Hamilton described how he and Tomaino spent a day going to city schools, providing haircuts to girls and boys who couldn’t afford them. They left each child with a gift bag of donated shampoos and styling products.
Hamilton began his barbering training at Sean’s House of Masters Barbershop in Buffalo in 2008, completed an apprenticeship at Presidential Cutz, and earned his New York State barber license in 2022.
Now Hamilton makes special presentations at Orleans-Niagara BOCES and is coaching a student there to do a flat-top cut as a special project. He’s been invited to present at Roy- Hart’s upcoming career day.
“I did career day at Newfane when my daughter was there,” Hamilton said. “To be asked to go to Roy-Hart — I’m honored.”
