A gentleman’s face requires maintenance. The clean-shaven have a daily razor regimen. The mustachioed man who follows the Chap Manifesto dictum, “Thou shalt always cultivate interesting facial hair,” needs waxes. The contemporary “lumbersexual” keeps up appearances with beard oil. Chicago soon will have a shaving shop in Q Brothers.
Q Brothers is the expansion of stalwart Merz Apothecary. Where Merz focuses on homeopathic health, Q Brothers will stock shaving accessories, fine fragrances, and other manly tonsorial wares.
Merz Apothecary opened in Chicago in 1875. Pharmacist Peter Merz catered to his local immigrant community by emphasizing traditional European herbal care. The business passed through three generations until grandson Ralph Merz, ready to retire, sold it to the 26-year-old Abdul Qaiyum in 1972. Abdul and his son Anthony expanded the business to the Internet in 1998 with smallflower.com. Anthony named Q Brothers after the acting/writing/production team he shares with his siblings Gregory and Jeffrey.
The shop will be in Lincoln Square next to Merz Apothecary at 4716 N Lincoln. An opening in the wall will connect Merz and Q, but there will still be separate street entrances. Whereas Merz retains a turn-of-the-century ambience with oak cabinets, leaded glass windows and antique pharmacy jars, Q Brothers will aim for more of a mid-century look. “The ‘40s and ‘50s were a great time for men’s grooming,” Anthony Qaiyum mused at DNAinfo.com.
Q Brothers will be found at 4718 N Lincoln in Chicago. They anticipate opening on November 28, Black Friday.
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