About the owner
For those who don’t know me yet, my name is Nathan Walter. I’m 29 and am married to my best friend, Heather. My family moved here from Dallas over 20 years ago and has called Youngsville home ever since.
I explored many different jobs and potential career paths after high school, but it wasn’t until summer of 2020 that I had the idea to go to barber school. I had always been particular with my hair and appearance and so no one I told was surprised to hear I’d decided to become a barber. I had actually started cutting my own hair after getting married in 2017, and a couple years later I found myself cutting a handful of friends’ hair during the pandemic. By the end of the summer, I was enrolled in school and couldn’t wait to start this journey.
Jumping into barber school was one of the best decisions I ever made and one of the best experiences of my life. I received intentional, in-depth instruction and patient guidance from instructors who I believe to be among the best in the state. I was challenged everyday with learning the theory and skills necessary to become a versatile, well-rounded barber capable of servicing clients with all types of hair. The community and culture I was brought into during school still serves as a standard that I desire to uphold in any future ventures in the barbering industry. The relationships and family I gained will always be dear to my heart. I graduated not only with 1,528 hours of training under my belt, but also with an Associate degree in Applied Science in Barbering, a rare credential in the industry. Accruing over 1,500 hours seemed almost insurmountable in the beginning, but by the end I couldn’t believe how the time had flown by and I had a hard time saying goodbye.
Having been thoroughly prepared, I passed the state board test on my first attempt and started my apprenticeship at a shop in Raleigh. I spent the next couple of years there building a solid foundation of shop experience and skill sharpening with the help of the veteran barbers working alongside me. I saw myself grow immensely as I broadened and improved my skillset while soaking up every bit of knowledge I could from those around me. Though it had been a dream and a goal to open my own shop since I started school, I had no idea what shape that would take or how it would happen or when the opportunity would come. Long story short, it came sooner than I had ever expected.
By the summer of 2023, I was beginning to feel the pull to make a move for myself and so came the idea for The Chophaus. Fast forward through a few months of brainstorming and mental planning, and what started as a mere “what if?” quickly turned into a full-fledged venture. I procured the space in the beginning of 2024 and have been hard at work since then turning it into what it is now. Many, many hours of not only my own time, but my family’s and some friends as well, have gone into renovating and outfitting the space, as well as the synthesis of the company itself. If not for the continued support of those around me, this would not have happened.
I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to work in the area I grew up in and I’m blessed every day that I get to connect with people while helping them look and feel their best. If you haven’t been by yet, c’mon! I’d love to meet you. Let’s chop!
-Nathan