Monaghans Barbershop gets busy buffing for Whanganui Vintage Weekend

Kevin Mischefski gets a quick lunchtime polish from his boss Sam Monaghan at the barbershop shoeshine stand. Photo / Liz Wylie

When you own a beautiful antique shoeshine stand it seems rude not to use it during a vintage street party.

Sam Monaghan, owner of Monaghans Barbershop in Whanganui's Victoria Ave reckons so and will be bringing it out for Bayleys Whanganui Vintage Weekend.

Monaghan said he saw the shoeshine station advertised online and thought it would blend brilliantly with the other fittings in his traditional barbershop.

"I bought the shoeshine stand online from a guy in Wellington and it came with all his gear," he said.

"He had been setting up in Courtney Pl and was doing well but he wanted to go back to university so he was selling up."

Now dapper gents and stylish ladies don't need to worry if they run out of time to polish their footwear before the Mainstreet Caboodle on Saturday.

Monaghan also expected to be busy doing haircuts and shaves along with beard and moustache trims.

"Saturday is our walk-in day and it is always busy but we expect to be extra busy with visitors wanting a traditional experience this weekend," Monaghan said.

"We changed things after Covid and made Tuesday to Friday appointment only days and opened for walk-ins on Saturdays. It has worked so well that we decided to stick with it.

"People love the authentic experience and older clients enjoy the nostalgia of a real barbershop but the young guys love it too."

*Monaghans Vintage Weekend Shoe Shine will be available for $5 a pair at 52 Victoria Ave during the Whanganui Mainstreet Caboodle on Saturday.