April 17, 2017

Meet Brian Girgus of The New California Barbershop in Echo Park

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Girgus.

Brian, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I opened the shop on Feb. 14th, 2013.

After working at different shops in SF, NY, and in LA I knew I had what it took to run my own shop.

Having your own shop is something a lot of barbers fantasize about but to put it into practice and succeed your decision making has to be very practical. It takes an insane amount of patience. Enough to drive you crazy half the time! Every day you have to wake up and go to the shop even though you know it may be slow. I did this every day for a year. I worked every day except for holidays the first year. It was not easy.

I knew I wanted the shop to grow organically and I knew that if I put the time in and stayed focused I could get what I wanted out of it.

The shop is still growing. It is a business that I hope to run for many more years so it’s a mind frame I constantly have to remind myself to keep. Every day I try and keep focused, be patient and make good decisions. Sounds easy, huh?…..hahahahaha.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road to getting the shop where it is today has not been terribly smooth.

Opening up was difficult. Many problems with the building and plumbing. What you think will take 2 months ends up taking 5. It’s frustrating. You’re dealing with city codes and inspectors. It’s not exactly smooth sailing.

Once I got the place open you have to slowly build your clientele. That takes showing up every day. There are many days when you don’t make much money but you see that it’s slowly growing and you know you’re on the right track. Focus is key.

I have had to plenty of hiring and I think anybody who has been in that role knows how unpredictable it can be. I have a great crew at the shop now and it’s been pretty stable for the past 2 years.

I think just trying to keep a good mind set is key. There will be bumps and bruises but that’s life. You gotta keep rolling forward through them.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The New California Barbershop – what should we know?
I think we’re known for quality haircuts and for having a very relaxed atmosphere at the shop.

Each barber has their own strengths and unique approach. I think our regulars feel like they can get what they pay for from every barber in there. New customers are consistently happy coming in there and it shows by the fact that they come back.

At the moment, I’m most proud that the shop has continued to grow. It currently provides 4 full time jobs and one part time job while paying a very, very decent living wage. I see our customers nearly every time I go out and that is pretty cool.

What sets us apart is the atmosphere and the fact that it’s all walk-in’s. There’s a lot of barbershops in the neighborhood and we’re all unique in our own way.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
All the barbers that work there deserve a ton of credit. Eric, Nancy, Amber, Elizabeth….we have a great crew and all these barbers have loyal clientele. They are extremely skilled barbers.

The clientele also sets us apart. A business is nothing without the people who support it. Our customers are great and they prove it daily.

My family has been very supportive as well. They help immensely with the business side of things.

I have had a lot of really amazing mentors. I’ve worked with great barbers and learned a lot from them. I definitely could not have learned everything that I’ve learned without them.

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