Kropps & Bobbers is a 17 yr. old company. The recently closed Minneapolis location was operating since April 1990. Doors closed when the owners left Minnesota to return home to England. The first NY location was opened in 1994 by Joni Johnson, in the west village at 23 Jones Street . Kropps & Bobbers relocated to the transitioning neighborhood of the lower east side in 1999, when the business outgrew the tiny space on Jones Street, Picking up on the energy of the LES neighborhood, and sensing the impending growth we decided to relocate the business from the West Village and settled into our digs at 173 Orchard. Here we established ourselves as a respected and appreciated addition to the LES. After 8 years on Orchard, it was time to grow and expand so we moved to a larger location for a fresh new start. Since we had become established here, and continued to believe in the future success of the area, there was no way we were leaving the LES! After searching the neighborhood we finally settled our sights on 119 Ludlow. We opened June 1, 2007 in our beautiful newly renovated store. Kropps & Bobbers at Ludlow will be a salon to better accommodate our existing clients. Here we continue to offer massage, as well as all hair services. Additionally, in the future, we intend to bring back some discontinued services and even add some new ones: such as manicures, pedicures, waxing services and skin
Tucked amid the tidy Loisaida boutiques—and dangerously close to Motor City—Kropps & Bobbers has relocated once again, expanding its services and tarting up its image. What started as a modest parlor in the West Village in 1994 by veteran stylist Joni Johnson has morphed into a seven-chair, full-service salon with a mani-pedi station and a quiet treatment room for facials, body waxing, and massage by resident therapist Jean Ockuly, who uses her own homemade oils. The laid-back vibe of the original remains, but the once-trademark funkiness has been swapped (along with Johnson’s dreads) for a more elegant patina: Fresh white walls now serve as the palette for works by local artists, along with displays of products by Bonacure, Osis, the L’Oreal Tex line, and American Crew. K&B still boasts its time-honored menu of edgy, high-end cuts and color, perms, relaxers, pinch-braid and heat-seal extensions, as well as dread perms, regular extensions, and maintenance. Hair talent runs the gamut here, as does the clientele. — Sarah Walker
Pet Friendly
Many K&B stylists are dog owners, so expect to socialize with some four-leggers, or feel free to bring your own.
Kropps and Bobbers specializes in haircuts, color and massage. We're one of the few salons that provides dreadlock services and uses superior methods for hair extensions to achieve luxurious length and extraordinary color effects.
