Freeman's Sporting Club

(212) 673-3209

8 Rivington St (nr. Chrystie St.)
New York, NY 10002 40.7216 -73.9932

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Neighborhoods: Lower East Side, Downtown, Bowery

Hours:

Mon-Fri, 11am-8pm

Sat, 11am-7pm

Sun, noon-6pm

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Men's Clothing, Barbers, Restaurants, Clothing

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Freeman's Sporting Club

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – This sportsman's store and barber shop seems to hail from a different era but is entirely in tune with the wants and needs of the modern dandy. Whitewashed walls hung with antlers evoke the same hunting-lodge chic as brother restaurant Freemans, but here luxury goods and services are for sale. The front is a melange of dress and work shirts, suits handmade in Brooklyn and tools and cocktail sets, while the back's vintage barber chairs get traffic for classic cuts, trims and shaves.

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Don't bother to call for an appointment--the barbershop is walk-in only.
The Extras:
Pretty much everything you see is on sale, from the books by Hemingway and Bukowski to the picture of Tom Tracy, "Australia's best welterweighter."
Look Good:
Freemans restaurant is just down the alleyway--and, being so chic, it's the perfect place to show off your new duds and haircut.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The old-school atmosphere, from the chairs to the decorations, is very impressive, and they add in unique touches like a warm towel for your face afterward.”
  2. “The atmosphere was great and the other barbers were funny as hell,I had a great experience!”
  3. “all of which places you will find outstanding customer service, a warm gentleman's atmosphere and premium quality!”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Just like any great bar, confidence, manners and a good communiction will get you everywhere here.”
  2. “No ambient e enduced dj stylings, no espresso, no chicks, just great people, great service and great product (finally can replace my Sharp's Kid Glove after shave).”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is the best place he has worked for.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “$40 is more than I usually spend, but it was the best cut I have had in years and I definately plan to go back.”
  2. “Over all, I like the store, I will return to shop in the store and I may return to try another barber.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “cool clothes, hot staff, great space, savvy barbers”
  2. “Great quality handmade clothes, great relaxed vibe and helpful staff.”
  3. “all of which places you will find outstanding customer service, a warm gentleman's atmosphere and premium quality!”
  4. “The price is reasonable and the staff is always nice and helpful.”
  5. “No ambient e enduced dj stylings, no espresso, no chicks, just great people, great service and great product (finally can replace my Sharp's Kid Glove after shave).”
  6. “The staff are friendly enough, but I think the continual banter between them distracts from what they are supposed to be doing.”
  7. “The staff too is charming enough!”
  8. “Love the service”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “(cutting hair, if you're reading this guys) There are plenty of cheap barbers that will give as good or better cuts.”
  2. “The price is reasonable and the staff is always nice and helpful.”
2 Star Rating: Below Average

10/21/10

What a Dissappointment

by CSMobileUser2

They didn't listen to what I wanted, "keep the length just clean it up, I'm growing it for fall" - simple instructions for beard and hair but he was too concerned with his cellphone and looking at his watch. Never again!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/16/10

Great Haircut

by ravterps

I have always been skeptical about getting my haircut away from home (Baltimore) since I moved but I came here and was very satisfied. Anyone looking i would recommend this place.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/19/09

Best cut on the east coast

Contributor

I have had a lot of haircuts in my travels but this one was yet the best cut I have ever gotten.The barbers name was Jason.He took his time and focused on the details and shape of my head.He didn't talk much but damn sure can cut hair. I received nothing but coments for the next 2 weeks.The atmosphere was great and the other barbers were funny as hell,I had a great experience!

1 Star Rating: Poor

02/08/09

The Emperor's New (Poorly Made) Clothes

by DownTownShorty

Granted the over-all styling of Freeman's Sporting Club is pretty sharp. Masculine, seeded with vintage and maintaining an undeniable level of snobbery that may even make someone feel special to be there...BUT

the quality of craftsmanship is just poor.

I purchased three "Brooklyn made" dress shirts all 3 of which lost their buttons during the first wearing! (Not even laundered yet)

When I brought them back in to explain, I was met with the most arrogant of attitudes. The nerve of me to bring these back in! When I looked for another style to exchange them for I realized that I had been overcharged for these shirts.

The sales associate explained to me that all of the shirts hanging were incorrectly priced and I had actually been charged the correct price. WHAT? Give me a break.

I left the shirts to have the buttons sewn on properly and waited for over a month before they were ready. I called several times and was told that "next time" it would be easier for me to just take them to my tailor for repair. Imagine!

This place is lame.

If you really want some of this (now pretty cliche) aesthetic in you shopping, just head over to Ernst Sewn, or the (JCrew) Liquor Store, or RRL, or Duncan Quinn, or Bespoke, or.... all of which places you will find outstanding customer service, a warm gentleman's atmosphere and premium quality!

  • Pros: Nicely styled store and employees
  • Cons: Poor Quality, Overpriced, Terrible Customer Service
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/05/09

Terrible cut

by samoproducer

I bought the hype, and shelled out the extra $40 clams for a cut here a while back. It was a terrible mistake. Didn't give me the cut I wanted, and it looked retarded. I had to get it fixed at the cheaper barber a week later. Avoid the hype.

The Details on Freeman's Sporting Club

Place Categories:

  • best hair cut
  • best place
  • always nice hot staff
  • favorite suit
  • best haircuts
  • great experience
  • great quality handmade clothes
  • outstanding customer service
  • very nice product
  • just poor quality
  • great oldschool atmosphere
  • terrible cut
  • great taste
  • great shaves
  • cool savvy barbers
  • like store
  • very good joey
  • nice one chaps
  • unique touches
  • very nice sutlery
  • great hands
  • great space
  • good barber
  • excellent
  • awesome mocasins
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