Specializing in Men's and boys haircuts, we offer many styles, all fades, flat tops, military cuts, and we will even cut women's hair too!
Ford Brown opened Brown's Barber Shop on November 29th, 1920, in the Village of Mecosta, and in 1927 moved it to another location in Mecosta.
In 1924, Ford moved the barber shop to Big Rapids and located it under the old Citizens State Bank at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Maple Street. It was known as Brown's Barber Shop. In 1946 Doyle Brown joined his father.
In 1960 Doyle Brown built the present Brown's Barber Shop at 216 South Michigan Ave in downtown Big Rapids across from the Big Rapids Theatre (now Big Rapids Cinema). The building was constructed as a duplex, and Doyle's wife Esther opened a party store with fine wines and specialty foods in the north half of the building, while barber shop was established in the south half.
There were four barbers, including: Doyle (owner) working full time, and Ford Brown (who at this time was semi-retired) worked on Saturdays, which was the busiest day.
In September '61, at the age of 19, Mike joined Doyle at Brown's Barber Shop and started a 50 year career serving Big Rapids and surrounding area.
Ford Brown retired and spent many winters in Florida with his wife Ethel, and died at the age of 86 in Big Rapids. When Doyle retired, Mike and his wife Joanne purchased the Barber Shop from him.
Terry Arnold began working at the barber shop with Mike in 1968. Mike and Terry ran the shop by themselves until hiring Sue Milton around 2001.
Mike celebrated his 50th anniversary of barbering at Brown's Barber Shop in September 2011, and the Brown family celebrated 96 successful years in the barbering business in the county. It is one of the oldest family businesses in Mecosta County and they are proud to have spent the majority of that 96 years in downtown Big Rapids.
Mike retired Oct. 1st 2011, and sold the building and barber shop to Marc Conley, who also owns Quinn's Music (right next door). The shop will continue to operate as Brown's Barber Shop to maintain the long standing tradition and reputation.
