Area Kicks & Cuts

I’ve taken my son here for haircuts on multiple occasions and they’ve always been adorable. He enjoys playing in the car, and it’s nice that they have a tv option. He’s almost 3, but has never kicked up a fuss here.
The customer service in the apparel section can be hit or miss. There are other stores in the neighborhood where the staff seems more knowledgeable, patient, and enthusiastic, particularly about working with children in a children’s shoe and apparel store.

We took our 18 month old for her first haircut on Sunday. I actually did not expect that we’d be able to walk in and was realistically prepared to just make an appointment in the future and go to the playground instead, but we were able to get in for a cut with Jennifer. Jennifer was great, very professional and obviously experienced with little ones with lots of patience and distractions on hand! She cleaned up the baby mullet into a very cute little bob and we were on our way.

My 2.5 yr old son HATES haircuts to the point that he’s been turned away from the last two barbers that couldn’t handle his crying and squirming. (I don’t blame them.) We stopped in Area Kicks and Cuts yesterday but the stylist wasn’t in. The very friendly woman running the shop convinced us to come back the next day, telling us Sandra (the stylist) could get the job done no matter what. We returned the next day, without high expectations, but Sandra was AMAZING. She wasn’t able to calm my son down (his fear of scissors is intense) but she worked through it quickly and easily. She was an expert who had clearly done this before and had a technique to avoid any danger of stabbing him as he kicked and screamed. Hats off to Sandra. His hair looks great! Definitely book with her if your child is a difficult client.

I’ve never had a great experience at this place, but it’s close, so on Friday, I stopped by in person to make an appointment for a weekend haircut for my daughter. After taking forever to boot up the computer, the guy behind the counter scheduled us for 1 PM on Sunday: I asked if we needed a confirmation but he said it was all set. When we arrived on Sunday, there was no trace of the reservation in the system and no one cutting hair on site. The girl behind the counter asked if no one had called to cancel, shrugged, and rolled her eyes. Not rebooking.

I went in 8 months pregnant with my two kids. Needless to say, I was in a rush. I needed to get in and get out quickly. My son needed shoes. I knew style/​color/​size. The very friendly store clerk quickly pulled the item. I paid, and we left. Two days later, my son kept crying, «owie». When I checked his shoes, I realized that store clerk had given me two different sizes. Easy fix, right? NO. I went back, and a different, VERY unpleasant store clerk, immediately became aggravated, «He does that ALL the time» referring to the gentleman who had sold me two different sizes. «I’m sorry, I can’t give you a refund». I didn’t want a refund, I just wanted the matching shoe. She said she could sell me a new pair for a discount. I protested. She went outside to make a call on the sidewalk — which was RUDE. She told me to come back the following day. I did. She said she couldn’t do anything. She went outside again to make a phone call, and was complaining about me so loudly that I could hear every word. And every word was WRONG! She told her superior that I was belligerent. I most certainly was agitated, but not belligerent. She said I was screaming, and demanding — I was none of those things. As a middle school teacher, I know that screaming, yelling, and demanding are ineffective tactics. I was also eight months pregnant, and too tired to be any of those things. All I wanted was the matching shoe. Nope. My husband, pitying his pregnant wife having to deal with such a mess decided to take over. He went in the next day, asked for the matching shoe, and they protested. He calmly asked to speak to a manager. They suddenly threatened to call the cops on my husband. They demanded that he leave the store, and made a HUGE scene. My husband manages a local store in the neighborhood, and is well known having been born and raised here. He has NEVER had problems with any local businesses, and most people in the neighborhood know him by name because he’s just generally a great guy. He was mortified when the store clerk threatened to call the cops on him. There were other customers in the store at the time who defended my husband, but he was still mortified. Unacceptable. He ended up paying for a WHOLE new pair of shoes with a 20% discount just because he was so mortified, and just wanted to get out of there. Now we have two extra shoes — different sizes. Thanks Area Kicks and Cuts! AWFUL!

Every time I go into this store (and the one in Carroll Gardens), the people that are working there are completely disinterested and sometimes downright rude. Not a fan of this place.

Came in to get shoes for my daughter. I asked a pair in 6, girl working there got me some shoes that definitely were worn, they had dirt spots all over. I said these shoes were worn, girl working there said no, we just got them and rolled her eyes at me. I’m sorry I’m not spending $ 40 on worn shoes. She didn’t even offer anything else, just gave me annoyed look. Never coming back!!!

Came in to get my nephews second haircut and I was blown away by the experience! The staff were gossiping, even using profane language [in a kids store!!!], the haircuts was one of the worsts I’ve ever seen [and I babysit several kids taking them to numerous hair appointments and other local shops] and was then treated incredibly rudely at check out! The toy selection was completely disorganized and sparse. We are definitely returning to the far more kid-​friendly hair salons in the area. phew.

Went in here once and never again. The employees were just chilling and socializing. Came in with my son in a stroller, could never get any of their attention, and finally left. Also, the merchandise seemed sparse and disorganized. And no one helped me out the door with my stroller. Shocker.

What is it about these Area Kids stores in Brooklyn? They all have horrendous service people. I went to this location in Park Slope to find a specific type of shoe for my daughter. I was alone, and the store was empty. When I asked her about the brand of shoe, the store clerk wouldn’t even make eye contact with me and just grunted. It was a European brand, so I asked her what the US size conversion would be… again, silence followed by a grunt, then she told me the number. Her whole program was beyond unpleasant. Then I asked her if they were on sale, and before I could finish the question, she cut me off and said «yes» while staring at her computer screen. At check out, she charged me in full, not the sale price that she had confirmed. I did notice that when the phone rang, she sounded like an entirely different person — sweet and singsongy. It was clearly the owner/​boss who called because she was polite, cheerful, and said «yes, I’ll make sure to check on that later today.» Then she hangs up, turns back to her computer and ignores me, «forgetting» to say goodbye to this paying customer. Ridiculous, I will never go back. I needed shoes for my girl ASAP, which was the only reason I tolerated such horrible human behavior.

I had a nice experience getting a haircut for my 4.5 yr old daughter on a Thursday around lunchtime. They had Netflix to keep her entertained and the cut looks fantastic.
I did notice that when some customers came in to look at the shoes, the stylist who was the only employee there didn’t greet them or mention that she could be right with them. She just kept dealing with our haircut and ignored them until they asked her a question.
But I can only review my experience and it was good.

Not only were they the two worst kids’ haircuts we have received, it took over an hour to receive these horrible cuts. Really stressful to be in the space that is not very kid-​friendly at all.

Alexandra cut my son’s hair this morning and we are very happy. He was excited about the police car and it looks better than our most recent cut at a similar neighborhood establishment. She took a full thirty minutes, which is twice as long as the aforementioned.
I would have given more stars, except I’ve twice been unhappy with two shoe purchases at Area. Both were sized incorrectly.

Do not go here!
My son had his hair cut by the new stylist today and it looks awful. We had been once before with a stylist called Kat who was great but her replacement (I didn’t get her name) was awful. I am seriously disappointed and very upset with the outcome. My son looks ridiculous! I am just glad I stopped her when she got the buzz clippers out. I had asked her to keep it a little long and messy. Needless to say we did not pay for the cut!

I wish I could give this place zero stars. But that’s not an option apparently.
I took my son for a haircut on Friday. A few of the comments we got subsequently, from strangers and friends:
1. Were you blind drunk and did this yourself?
2. Did his friends cut his hair?
3. Please tell me you did not pay for this.
4. Oh my god.
The cut is horrific. Think Leif Garrett and Vince Neil, at their worst. It’s crooked, feathered, completely hideous.
So we went back in the next day to see if the «stylist» could fix the cut. In between filing her nails and checking her message, she glared at me and said, with no apology, that we could come back later if we wanted.
Needless to say, we did not want.
This place is a money-​sucking pit of rudeness and incompetence. The only good thing I can say about it is: hair does grow back, eventually.

I first went here when they opened to get my daughter a haircut. The experience was awful. The hairdresser said nothing to my daughter. Not even so much as a «Hi». It was overpriced and definitely under delivered.
Months later, I was in the neighborhood and decided to give it a shot because my daughter needed sneakers. I read the reviews and thought, I’ll see for myself. Well, it was almost comical how spot on the reviews were. I walked in at 6:05 to be told by the girl that they’re closed. I told her the sign on the door said 7 (and the door was open) at which point she told me that the hours are not set. I’ve never heard of a store where the hours are up in the air. I will never go there again. It’s not worth giving my money to a business like this when there are so many other hard working business owners that deserve it!

I wanted to get my daughter a new pair of shoes for school. I went there at 6:30pm last night and they were already closed, fair enough. I tried to look up the hours online and found nothing, I tried to call and there was no answer, or message (with hours, location, etc.) So we went to the store at 11:30 and the sandwich board was outside, i assumed the store was open, but the door was locked. I saw someone all the way in the back and knocked on the window. We stood outside, I tried the door again, knocked a few more times, nothing, this went on for over 10 minutes. There is no sign on the door or windows with the hours, or the phone number so I could just call them from the sidewalk to ask.
Anyway, against my better judgement we went back again after lunch. When we went back, I asked the woman working there what their hours were, mentioning we had been there earlier, and they weren’t open. She asked me what time, I said 11:30 and she responded «yes we were (open).» I said the door was locked (which I tried more than 1 time) and she said no, I was here. I told her I saw her and was knocking on the window… she started saying something about how I was trying to open the door wrong (REALLY), blah, blah, blah. Why in the world would you start an argument with a customer instead of just saying the hours?!
I said to my daughter let’s go and my daughter asked why. I told her this is not the way you treat people and I will not spend money in a store like this. I was annoyed at this point (can you blame), but just talking to my daughter, then the woman in the store said something to me as we were walking out. Don’t know what she said and nor do I care.
This is not my 1^st bad experience with the AREA chain. At the Court St. store I was buying my daughter a couple of dresses and they wouldn’t let her use the bathroom. a 5 year old in a kids store.
Needless to say, I WILL NEVER SPEND ANOTHER CENT in one of their stores, and you shouldn’t either.

I went in looking for a pair of new sneakers for my 3 year old. So this review only pertains to the «kick» part of the store. Awesome selection of shoes but the staff was okay. I feel like I would’ve gotten better service at JCPenney and not at a store that sells $ 60 shoes to infants & toddlers.
The sales associate was eating an ice cream cone and with only one hand to help did nothing to size my toddler. She kicked the shoe measurement tool over to where I was with my child and then I proceeded to help my child with fitting, etc.
I felt like I was the one working there and not her — very unprofessional.
The associate behind the cashier could’ve helped me instead if the other one was busy eating her ice cream. Both of them were pretty lukewarm with their attitude bordering on icy. I understand it’s a kids store and you don’t need to smile at me all day long like if we were in Disney World but some sort of friendliness would’ve been nice. Especially if I’m going to drop some serious money on kiddie shoes. I would not go in there again and rather venture a bit farther to A Shoe Grows in Brooklyn next time I am in need of purchasing children’s shoes in the neighborhood.

The workers here seem so uninterested in their job, usually playing with there iPhones, iPads, or looking as disinterested as possible. I absolutely love stopping by here for my sons native shoes, but I feel as if no one can stop playing with their phones to help me, and if a question is asked I feel as if I just bothered someone. It’s a very cute store, with lots of things, but the attitudes are absolutely horrible! You would think they would be more friendly considering it is a children’s store.
They also don’t take one hundred dollar bills, even after my total was $ 87.00, making me go to near by stores to ask for change. The guy in the clothing store a couple of stores down couldn’t believe that they didn’t take hundreds!

I brought my 19 months baby boy for his second hair cut. All i can say acout this hair cut is… HORRIBLE!
it is not only uneven, there are holes on back of his head! We point it out to the stylist, she said «that’s so much I can do! I can’t go any shorter!»
Seriously is Holes! Don’t you want to fix it?
I m so surprise to get that answer! I mean, how can u allow your client to walk out like that! It is a shame your work, don’t you have any passion with your job or any respect?
Consider my son had his first hair cut 5 months ago at a local adult hair salon, and that’s was smooth and successful.
I wanted to give him a fun haircut experience by sending him to a children hair salon with fancy toy chair. Area do have a cool toy chair where my son enjoy in the beginning. So, one star goes to the chair!
The hair stylist is terrible! She doesn’t seems to like her job, move super slow, and her cutting skill… Hugh! Enough said.
Pls don’t try it, both my husband and I wanted to cry while we walked out looking at the three holes!