When Lawrence Funk was growing up, kids used to make fun of his last name. But now, his name is embedded in Chicago with Funk’s Barbershop and Funk’s Custom Clippers, and instead of being used to get a good laugh, Funk is associated with having the go-to place to get a haircut.
On 429 S. Dearborn St, many clients have stopped in to get their haircut over the three years since Funk’s Barbershop was established. However, what makes Funk’s shop unique is the type of clients that frequently visit – professional athletes.
Here are just a few of the athletes that have stopped in Funk’s Barbershop:
- Bears QB Mitch Trubisky
- Bears QB Chase Daniel
- Bears TE Zach Miller
- Bears P Pat O’Donnell
- Former Bears QB Jay Cutler
- Former Bears QB David Fales
- Former Bears K Cairo Santos
- Eagles TE Zach Ertz
- White Sox Left Fielder Nicky Delmonico
- White Sox Third Baseman Yolmer Sanchez
Even though Funk never doubted his own abilities, it’s still a surreal feeling for him to have cut and currently cut various professional athletes’ hair.
“I’ll be honest with you, man, I never in a million years thought I would be in this position,” Funk said. “It’s surreal for the simple fact that I cut all the main guys. And they [professional athletes] love the haircuts.”
But Funk’s relationship with his clientele doesn’t stop after the last piece of hair is cut. A lot of Funk’s clients are some of his best friends.
“Zach Miller is a good friend of mine,” Funk said. “I talk to him on a regular basis and you know, he is my friend, he is just not my client.”
With Funk connecting with his clients and giving premium haircuts, guys like Miller would recommend Funk to others by word of mouth. This includes Bears general manager Ryan Pace, who has stopped in multiple times to get a haircut.
(Fun fact, Funk had two first timers come into his shop on Cinco De Mayo this year: Pace and myself.)
We meet again Ryan Pace. Also, this was before I got my haircut. @ChicagoBears #FreshCut pic.twitter.com/eurZhny3Pz
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) May 5, 2018
Another player who heard about Funk from Miller is Bears backup quarterback Chase Daniel. He answered three questions for the article in a direct message on Twitter:
1. Q – What is it about Funk’s Barbershop that will have you going back in the future?
Daniel: “First & foremost, he is a great dude. And he is very good at his job, very detailed with different types of cuts.”
2. Q – How did you hear about Lawrence and the shop in the first place?
Daniel: “I heard about Funk’s from Zach Miller.”
3. Q – For someone who has never been there, why would you tell them to go?
Daniel: “The shop itself is very cool spot to hang out and feel like you’re in an old school barbershop with a new twist on it. Great service as well!”
Professional athletes and NFL GMs are not the only ones who have taken a liking to Funk’s Barbershop. Plenty of fathers and sons also come in to spend quality family time with each other, and Funk believes that is important.
“I think just having a guy being able to bring his son in and he’s getting a shave and his son is getting a haircut, almost doesn’t get much better,” Funk said.
To add to the inviting atmosphere that Funk’s Barbershop has, Funk and his clients also make the barbershop a place for anyone because of the conversations that go along with each haircut. And that includes talking about Funk’s favorite NFL team – the Chicago Bears.
With all the moves the Bears made this offseason and in the draft, Funk, like most Bears fans, has high expectations for the team this upcoming season.
“I think getting the receivers, all the new guys, I realistically think they should be a playoff team this year,” Funk said.
For Bears fans, it has been eight years since the Bears have made the playoffs and the fanbase will be rooting for Funk’s prediction to come true. Those same expectations Funk has for his beloved team this season are equally as high for what he expects from himself and his barbershop in the upcoming years.
“My main goal is to open up nationwide,” Funk said. “I want to open up a Funk’s Barbershop in L.A.; I want to open up a Funk’s Barbershop in South Beach. I want to still continue to work, but I just want to have several shops in several locations so that I can take care of all different kinds of clientele.”
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