Mike Cashen Conti is owner of Pugsly’s Traditional Barbershop and Pugsly’s Sideshow, both in Kingston New York.
When Mike was 18 he started working in a garage, working with rust and making old things cool again. He’s always been interested in Kustoms, hot-rods and motorbikes but barbering is what he is really passionate about.
His interest hit tipping point after enrolling in Barber College and from there it became an all-out obsession. After a day in the class room Pugsly would spend his entire night researching cutting techniques, styles, barbershop history and culture.
His research inspired him to do more than mimic the look of an old-school barber shop, but to recreate the entire service. Mike ensures that everybody who walks through his door leaves with exactly what they wanted or something even better.
You could say that running a business runs through Mike’s blood. His family had run a Bakery for three generations, which taught him that sometimes a no-frills approach is all it takes to produce a quality product.
If you’re ever in upstate New York, we’d highly recommend checking out one of Mike’s shops.