PILSEN — Two Pilsen brothers are combining their talents to open a new shop on 18th Street.
Brothers Mario and Daniel Maldonado are opening Midwest Made, an all-in-one barbershop, smoke shop and custom T-shirt and vinyl design printing shop, at 1418 W. 18th St. in Pilsen.
Mario Maldonado previously operated Smoketiques, a smoke shop, and a T-shirt printing business, also called Midwest Made, out of a Lacuna Artists Lofts space in Pilsen. His brother, Daniel Maldonado, previously operated a barbershop called The Basement at 18th and Carpenter streets in Pilsen and another shop in Bridgeport.
Now that his brother is back from living in California for a few years, Mario Maldonado, a Pilsen native, said teaming up to open a joint business in a larger space " just made sense."
"I've helped him out with his business" and vice versa, Mario said. "My brother, he's had two barbershops before, but we want to do a gentleman's barbershop this time with a certain type of atmosphere, a classic look that [attracts] older gentlemen."
The shop is a true "family affair," Mario said. His cousin Joe Garcia, also a barber, will be working in the shop alongside nephew Victor Mendoza and the brothers' close friends.
The print shop will offer screen printing using "any kind of digital media on any material," Mario said, including window signs and stickers.
If all goes well with permits and renovations, the brothers plan to open Midwest Made before Christmas.
The Pilsen building, which the brothers are renting, previously housed a medical office.
Brothers Mario and Daniel Maldonado are opening Midwest Made at 1418 W. 18th Street in Pilsen. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
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