Haircuts, Lattes & Maybe a Ghost: Irving Park's Scissor and Fork Is the Neighborhood's Coolest New Hangout

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Irving Park · July 10, 2026

Irving Park neighbors, your commercial corridor just got one of its most charming — and possibly most haunted — new additions of the year. Scissor and Fork, which opened at 3968 N. Elston Ave. in early March, is rewriting the rulebook on what a neighborhood business can be. Part hair salon, part café, and part community gathering space, the shop is the brainchild of owner Ash Grant, a longtime Portage Park resident who wanted to bring more "third spaces" to the Northwest Side.

Customers can pop in for a fresh cut, linger over a cup of coffee, or simply pull up a chair among the thrifted furniture, houseplants, and twinkling lights that give the space its signature cozy vibe. Grant filled the former 50-year-old Chinese restaurant storefront — vacant since the COVID-19 pandemic — with warmth and personality, and the salon's four stylists are already booking appointments. The café side is also up and running, serving pastries and coffee Tuesday through Saturday.

And about those rumors of a ghost? Grant cheerfully confirms the spirit seems friendly. Beyond haircuts and lattes, Scissor and Fork has already hosted community events like grant writing workshops, with more programming on the horizon. It's exactly the kind of neighborhood-first, people-centered business that makes Irving Park such a special place to call home. Have you visited Scissor and Fork yet? Drop your review in the comments and tag a neighbor who needs a new go-to spot!

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/03/31/scissor-and-fork-a-definitely-haunted-salon-and-cafe-opens-in-irving-park/