“MANIFEST, DC’s first-ever barbershop, speakeasy and retail concept in Adams Morgan”

1807 Florida Ave, NW photos courtesy MANIFEST

From a press release:

“MANIFEST, a culture-driven lifestyle concept is set to open this fall in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of the nation’s capital. Conceived by K.J. Hughes, along with partners Brian Merritt and Susan Morgan, and designed by visionary design firm, Snarkitecture, the thoughtfully curated, first-of-its-kind space repurposes an array of essentials into a modern self-care moment. Within Manifest, guests will enjoy expert grooming services at the next-gen barbershop, an intimate artisanal coffee shop, cutting-edge retail with international brands and products, a 30-seat destination featuring highly curated cocktails, and a well-appointed bookable residence opening later in the Fall for those seeking an immersive experience with unparalleled Capitol views through the retractable glass roof door.

Anchored by the belief that “everything great starts with a haircut,” the barbershop at Manifest transforms an essential service into an undeniably personalized wellness experience worth anticipating. The boutique barbershop lends itself nicely to the exchange of ideas while experiencing the extraordinary talents of a diverse group of top-tier barbers in town, who will be available to cut all hair types and a variety of styles, whether clients are seeking a fade or simple trim. With curved walls and arched openings, the barbershop at Manifest provides members and walk-in guests alike with an elevated, full-service approach to grooming where indulgence is the standard and services can be selected based on the time they have to spare.

“I’ve traveled all over the world and immersed myself in so many cultures and it’s my dream for Manifest to exist to cater to connections and foster the shared experiences that keep us all thriving,” says owner K.J. Hughes. “It’s ambitious, but we want to be the catalyst for clients achieving their best selves. Self-care begins with grooming, but it certainly does not end there.”

While rooted in exceptional wellness services, Manifest also seeks to be a welcoming community that nurtures camaraderie. To achieve that, the cultivated space offers a membership program providing members with exclusive access to events, discounts, rewards incentives, and access to book appointments and reservations in advance. Manifest boasts state-of-the-art features such as an artisanal coffee shop with offerings including organic loose leaf tea from BIPOC-owned Aesthete Tea, and locally sourced coffee beans by black-owned roaster, Black Acres Roastery. For patrons seeking more of an escape, the culture hub will also house Out of Office, a 30-seat hidden space for members and guests to indulge in seasonal spins of highly curated cocktails. With a quarterly rotation of alcoholic drinks inspired by the favorite travel (OOO) destinations of the Manifest team, the hidden threshold serves as a happy hour haven where guests can unwind and unplug.

The retail space at Manifest will offer a curated selection of high-end grooming products and cutting-edge fashion brands from designers including Rick Owens DRKSHW, Engineered Garments, Reese Cooper, Homme Plisee, as well as Manifest’s own line called, Of US.

The ideals behind Manifest are literally manifested by exceptional designs from award-winning New York-based design firm, Snarkitecture. Breanna Urquhart, an associate at the highly sought-after firm–known locally for their large-scale installations at the National Building Museum in DC– led the project with the intention to create a sense of belonging and discovery for visitors. By employing design elements that encourage guests and members to pause and appreciate the moment throughout their journey at Manifest, the cultural hub serves as a point of discovery, exchange and restoration.

“When we set out to design MANIFEST, it needed to be a new kind of barbershop, inviting to all people. Simultaneously, we wanted to create a sanctuary, a community space, an institution, a one-of-a-kind experience that still feels like home,” said Alex Mustonen, Partner at Snarkitecture. “The design unifies the cafe, retail, and barbershop space into a singular environment with self-care and wellness front and center.”

Unifying details throughout the space include archways, which are meant to represent the sloughing off of the old and moving into a new phase of life, while linear elements symbolize a sense of community and connection. For example, curving walls that are seen in the barbershop continue up through the secret staircase that leads to the speakeasy. Arched openings repeat upstairs to carve out the intimate lounge and cocktail settings.

Snarkitecture also uses the craft of terrazzo and mixed patterns to add depth to the space, while also celebrating inclusion and a sense of unison. Every single design element was designed to create a welcoming, intimate atmosphere that will invoke conversation and appeal to all the senses.

Manifest is located at 1807 Florida Ave NW, Washington DC 20009 and opens 8a-8p, daily. Holiday hours of operation are: 9am-4pm Christmas Eve (barber shop bar; out of office closed) 9am-7p New Years Eve (barbershop, bar) 7p-2am (out of office) Closed Christmas and New Years Day. To book an appointment via membership or to shop, please visit the website at www.manifest.us or call 202.903.0300.”