Downtown Walnut Creek Is A Cut Above For Barber Shops

Want to get a haircut in downtown Walnut Creek?

No problem. Take your pick.

The city's downtown area is home to no less than nine hair cutting places, many of which have been in existence for more than a half-century.

There's the Amplify Barber Shop, complete with barber pole, in the 1300 block of North Main Street. It's been around since 1956, when it was called the Las Palmas Barber Shop and was located inside a hotel.

Less than a block away is DiMaggio's Barber Shop with a bench outside and a sign that states "walk ins only." No appointments allowed here.

The Hair Cuttery is not too far away on Cypress Street. A few blocks east on the same street is Cypress Street Haircuts.

A Man's World is over on Mt. Diablo Boulevard while the Clip Joynte is closer to City Hall on Main Street, just a couple blocks from the Str8 Edge Barber Shop on Locust Street.

Even the Super Cuts at Main Street and Bonanza has been around since the early 1980s. It was one of the original franchises opened in that chain.

And if you want a little more you can go to the Changes salon and spa on Broadway.

Sal DiMaggio has owned his downtown hair cutting business for the past 17 years. He's the third owner of the shop, which has been around since 1958.

DiMaggio, a second cousin to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, said many of the barber shops have survived because they've been entrenched for decades.

He said a barber shop trying to start from scratch in downtown might have have trouble now.

"The ones here are established as a business," he said. "People know where they are."

DiMaggio added the ability for people to park and walk downtown also helps. He said the variety of the hair cutting establishments also gives patrons a choice.

His barber shop is a more traditional one. It's relatively quiet and there are old-fashioned barber chairs. The other barbers are employees, not contractors.

"Each shop downtown is a little different," he said. (See the comment below this article about the ownership of DiMaggio's.)

Chris Jennings, the owner of the Str8 Edge Barber Shop, agrees.

"There's a different barber shop for everyone. Each one has a different vibe," he said.

Jennings' place appeals to a younger crowd. There's louder music as well as graffiti-type art and skateboards on the walls.

Jennings cut hair at Amplify and the Clip Joynte before taking over the Str8 Edge three and a half years ago. His father works alongside him along with a couple independent contractors.

The Str8 Edge is tucked into a small strip mall near Locust and Civic Drive. Jennings actually likes the somewhat out-of-the-way location.

"We're well known here. We feel comfortable here," he said. "Sometimes something hidden is a little bit better. You know, build it and they will come."

Friday was busy at most of the shops. Jennings said that's no surprise.

"Friday is a great hair cutting day," he said. "Everyone wants to look good for the weekend."

The downtown area, however, may be reaching its saturation point for hair cutting places.

Dee, the owner of Cypress Street Haircuts, said her business has been a little slow the past couple years.

She said the recession and the crackdown on parking in Walnut Creek's downtown has hurt her shop, which has been around since the 1950s.

She also recently had plans to move and told her customers she was leaving, only to have the deal fall through. Some of her patrons don't know she's still on Cypress, a half-block from Main Street.

Nonetheless, Dee wants to hang around.

"I like it here," she said.

DiMaggio and Jennings feel the same way.

"I really enjoy being here," said DiMaggio.

"Walnut Creek is a very cool town," added Jennings. "I really enjoy working here."