A few years ago, a fellow Alabama swimmer showed up to train with Rachel in New York. He was going to be interning in the Big Apple, while training for the 2012 Olympic Trials. Typically, when someone is interning in NYC, it’s going to be in the financial, or fashion industry… however… this swimmer was interning at an ice cream company. While Reese was in NYC, I learned that his older brother, Austin, was also in the city, working for Esquire Magazine. Here were two fellow Alabama swimmers, living in New York, learning about crafts that they had passion for.
Getting to know Reese Shirey that summer, I saw a young man with a path. While that path may not have been typical, there was passion in his voice, in his actions, that I saw a path. You’ve never heard anyone talk about ice cream, the way Reese talks about ice cream. You’ve also never tasted ice cream, until you’ve tasted Reese’s ice cream. Trust me, one of the toughest things I’ve EVER had to do, was when Reese dropped off a pint of his Salted Caramel Vanilla… I was forced to SAVE some for when Rachel got home from practice. NOT an easy task.
When I had heard that Austin had left Esquire, and that he and Reese, and another friend were opening a barber shop in Florence Alabama, I had to find out what was going on. So while we had a short break in Nashville, I hopped in the car and drove down to see what was up.
Pulling up to Greasy Hands Barber Shop, it’s a very small, narrow shop, at the end of a short strip of buildings. It’s not on a main thoroughfare, it’s a bit out of the way… but when you’re great at what you do…
Try to get a seat in Austin’s chair. He’s booked for the next three weeks. So why not grab the best cup of coffee in the south from Reese. This isn’t just a hair cut… it’s the care and focus put into each snip. This isn’t just a cup of coffee… seriously… it’s a piece of art… each one.
The attention to detail is what’s missing in so many things these days. The details come from passion. The details come from caring about what you’re presenting.
Out of this little nondescript building, comes art. Art in the form of the haircut, the coffee, and the selection of clothes with their 3rd partner at Dixie Garage. It’s an experience, a culture, a lifestyle… but to turn it all into a business that supports you is the result of focus, work… all the things that Reese and Austin learned while swimming.
THIS is what this trip, this year, is about. Finding greatness where we don’t expect it.
I can tell you one thing though… if you EVER tell me that Austin or Reese Shirey is involved in ANY project. I will absolutely expect greatness out of it. Their track record proves it.
By the way, while Reese is mostly focused on coffee right now, he still makes ice cream for the shop each week. While I was there, a young boy, with a fresh hair cut came back with his Mom to ask for a scoop. Reese handed him the cup with the ice cream, the boy looked in and said, “All you have is just vanilla?”. I replied, “If Reese made it, it’s NEVER JUST vanilla.”
The look on the boys face after the first bite confirmed what Reese had just said. “There may be a little bit more in there.”
It’s the details.
Please support my friends by following them on Instagram, and when you’re near Florence, Alabama, stop in and say hello. Don’t forget the ROLL TIDE!
– Greasy Hands
– Turbo Coffee
– Dixie Garage
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