By day, Kevin Gilchrest cuts hair in the back of his Fourth Street business.
But come October, his barbershop will become an intimate jazz and comedy club at night.
The 4th St. Studio Barber Shop Comedy & Jazz Club's first comedy show at 628 W. Fourth St. is scheduled for Oct. 10, followed by a jazz show on Oct. 30.
Gilchrest, who has 20 years' experience as a barber, has been interested in offering a jazz venue since he moved to Winston-Salem from the New York area several years ago. He opened his barbershop at its present location in 2005 and has often played jazz music to create a relaxing atmosphere for his diverse clientele as he cuts hair.
Gilchrest and Eddie Brooks are the shop's full-time barbers and Gilchrest's son, Kevin Jr., works there part time.
"I do the hot towel and the razors," Gilchrest said. "I like the old school."
The idea to offer jazz in a barbershop environment came from one of his walks in downtown Manhattan during a trip to New York in early 2007. He saw more than 30 people at a barbershop listening to a two-man band playing jazz.
"A couple of people were getting their hair cut," he said.
During the summer of 2007 on a trip to New Orleans, Gilchrest visited another barbershop that offered jazz music for patrons.
Gilchrest figured that his barbershop and club idea would work in Winston-Salem since the city is a pretty artsy place and offers jazz concerts during the summer.
"4th St. Studio just wants to add on to what Winston-Salem has going on as far as development of the downtown area," he said. "With the baseball stadium and everything coming, I think it would be great to have a little entertainment for people who want something to do after a baseball game or other events going on downtown."
He plans to use local talent, including Sonya Henderson, the Wake Forest Jazz Band, the Sunset Group and individual musicians from the N.C. School of the Arts.
He added comedy because there is a lack of comedy venues in Winston-Salem, he said.
Comedy is also one of several types of entertainment that Gilchrest likes to promote through his other company, Final Touch Productions.
4th Street Studio offers barber services in the back of the shop daily, except for Sundays.
Two comedy shows will be offered at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. A jazz show will be at 8 p.m. on Thursdays and at 5 p.m. on Sundays.
The barbershop and club have combined space of 1,600 square feet.
Gilchrest hopes to put up a glass wall to separate the barbershop from the club, which will seat 120 people and have a bar offering beer, wine and snacks.
Jason Thiel, the president of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, said that there is growing demand for more entertainment in the downtown area to go along with the area's successful restaurants.
He said that 4th St. Studio will provide "a simple double-header for the evening for a couple, for a family or for some friends."
"It makes a lot of sense," he said. "It goes to tell you that when there's an opportunity, the entrepreneurial spirit will typically provide something."
He expects more entertainment venues to open downtown.
"Maybe a playhouse or a single-screen movie theater -- anything that goes into the performing arts or the entertainment category," Thiel said.
■ Fran Daniel can be reached at 727-7366 or at fdaniel@wsjournal.com.
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