Meet Cody Ramirez of Americano Barber Co in South Los Angeles county

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Ramirez.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I began working in my older sister’s salon at 12 years old. I started with sweeping up hair but soon enough I was washing hair, blow drying, mixing color, taking appointments- you name it. I had a blast getting to know the clients, assisting my sister, and getting a handful of cash at the end of the day. I met both my prom date and my very first girlfriend at the salon. Not a bad gig! Aside from these perks, I was attracted to the freedom and creativity involved in this business. My sister traveled around the world and drove sweet cars at a young age. I wanted in. Although I had been accepted to San Francisco State University, I decided to pursue the salon business that I had grown to know and love.

After cosmetology school, I worked in my sister’s salon and pursued doing women’s hair for several years in the Monterey Peninsula. As I started gaining more male clients, it opened my eyes to another side of the industry. One day a friend from church told me that she had read an article in the paper about this older Sicilian Barber who was looking for a “successor” to take over his barbershop in Monterey, CA. I arranged a meeting with Franco and we immediately hit it off. His two chair old-fashioned barbershop was full of charm. I ended up working with him at Franco’s Barbershop for four years. I learned a ton from Franco and from a lot of the older military officers that came in from the former Fort Ord military base. He taught me the old barber techniques and was like a grandfather to me. I often regret not taking over the insanely busy 25-year-old shop he was handing down to me. I ended up moving to Long Beach, CA to follow my then-fiancé who had moved to Los Angeles for work. For two years I worked in a barbershop in Seal Beach but finally came to the decision that it was time to make my own way and open a barbershop with a culture that reflects my values and offers a quality experience. I made the leap and opened Americano Barber Co. in the East Village neighborhood of Downtown Long Beach.

Has it been a smooth road?
I’ve had my share of challenges along the way. Losing my mother to cancer when I was 26 was rough. It was hard to see such a strong-willed and vibrant person deteriorate when the cancer finally got hold of her. When I moved to Long Beach, I left an amazing community of friends, family, and a successful shop to start a new life in So Cal. Building a business from the ground up while simultaneously going back to barber college to get my barber’s license was challenging to say the least.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Americano Barber Co – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business is an expression of my love for the craft of barbering built on a solid foundation of 20 years of experience. When I sat down to develop my vision for Americano Barber Co., I knew I wanted to revive the spirit of the old-fashioned barbershop offering classic, precision haircuts and shaves with quality products and a sense of community. I’m proud to be part of the Long Beach community and I think what sets Americano Barber Co. apart is that my clients reflect the diversity of our city and yet every person who walks through our doors is going to feel like family. That’s the atmosphere I am working to create and I’m proud to say that I believe we’ve accomplished that.

How do you, personally, define success? What’s your criteria, the markers you’re looking out for, etc?
For me, success is when I am able to look outside myself and help those around me grow and do well. My hope is that Americano Barber Co. will thrive as a business alongside our clients and our community and that it will become a pillar of Long Beach for years to come.

Pricing:

• Haircut with hot towel and razor finish $30.00
• Wet shave with facial steam $35.00
• Classic cut and shave combo $55.00
• Beard reshape and cut throat $25.00

Image Credit:
Sam Pablo at noblevisionfilms.com

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.