It was a Friday, I had taken the afternoon off. I was at a local bar/restaurant having lunch and a couple beers winding down for the weekend. With my schedule I'm able to flex my time, so I typically take Friday afternoons off.
Anyway, as I was sitting at the bar another patron at the bar introduced himself as Patrick. We talked a bit about the sports on TV, the games this weekend etc.
We chatted for a bit, Patrick ended up telling me he was new to the area, his wife needed to move for a promotion that's how they ended up here. Patrick told me he was in the process of opening his business.
He told me he was opening a full service male salon. He said there were none in the area and thought it'd be a well needed service. I said I never heard of a full service male salon, but being my wife has been cutting my hair for years, that's no surprise.
Patrick continued to tell me it's not just about hair cuts. He told me it's going to be called "Bourbon and Beards"
He told me about the business model, he said women have a full day of massages, hair, nails, hair removal etc... and he was hoping to do the same for men. He said he is starting with hair cuts, beard trimming/maintenance and hair removal, eventually moving towards massage and manicures if all went well. He said the big draw will be serving whiskey and bourbon during your visit.
Once he mentioned the bourbon and whiskey, he had my attention. I asked him several questions and it all seemed very interesting. We ended our conversation with him giving me a business card and gave me a tentative opening date and said to call and make an appointment, my first cut would be 50% off.
About two weeks later I bumped into Patrick again at the same bar we originally met, he told me they had just received their occupancy permit from the city, the final step before opening. He said he was opening tomorrow but would be having a grand opening a bit later once all the bumps were smoothed over. I congratulated him and said I'd be in tomorrow for a cut, he said thank you and told me to pop in anytime between 10am and 5pm and he'd get me in as he didn't expect to be too busy the first day.
I arrived about 12:30 and was greeted by the receptionist, she said it'd be about a 30 minute wait and I can have a seat. The place was done up really well. It reminded me of what a 1920's Speakeasy would look like mixed with a old time barber shop, Patrick really did a great job.
After I sat down the receptionist offered me a drink and as she rattled off a few different options I settled on a Jameson Black Barrel neat. About 20 minutes later she told me Patrick was ready, I took my final sip of whiskey as she lead me to my seat. She offered me another but I declined and Patrick walked from the back.
"Hey buddy" he greeted me, "how are you? Thanks for coming in, I really appreciate the support."
""Hey Patrick, thanks for the invite, I probably never would have even known you were here if we hadn't met."
He sits me down and started asking how I'd like my hair cut, I said "well since it's been done with just a clippers for the last several years....I'll leave that up to you, you're the professional."
Patrick and I made small talk the entire time he was cutting my hair. He talked a lot about his new business, the services he was offering. He said right now he is doing hair, beards and body trimming/hair removal. After that we talked about weather, sports music and movies. We definitely had a lot in common.
Patrick finished up and I was very impressed, it's been several years since I had a professional hair cut and had my hair styled. I couldn't have been happier with the job he did, I told him he just got a new permanent customer.
Over the next two months I had a standing appointment every other Friday. After my forth or fifth visit Patrick was really pushing the body trimming or hair removal. I was a bit hesitant, having a man do that, but then I thought he's a professional, it would be nice to have someone else do it, I'm sure it'd be a much better job than I do myself.
I gave in and told him I'll schedule with his receptionist for my next visit.
The day arrived for my next visit, I arrived about 30 minutes earlier knowing I'd have at least 2 or 3 drinks to ease my nerves. I was just kind of freaking out knowing another man was going to be poking around down there. I had 2 Jameson's while I waited and took a 3rd to my seat while having my hair cut. Patrick and I talked about all the normal things, then he asked "have you thought what type of service you'd like after your cut?"
"Well what I normally do is trim the top then I shave around the base and shave my balls, so I was thinking something along those lines."
"Sounds good, that's pretty much what most guys get." Patrick finished up a last few snips and stated I was done with the cut, he removed my apron and said we were ready to go to the back.
Patrick lead me to a small private room, had what looked similar massage table but the foot and head also inclined or laid flat. He pointed to a small private bathroom with a shower, he said you can get ready in there, feel free to use the restroom if needed. The shower is for when we start doing massages or if someone wanted their ass waxed we have them shower for that service. "Anyway, all I need you to do is strip from the waist down, then you can lay down and cover yourself with this towel, and Ill be back in a few minutes."
I did as instructed, Patrick knocked and asked if I was ready, I said I was ready. Patrick walked in pushing a small cart with various items, a few bowls, some lotions and creams, stuff like that. He said "don't be nervous, I've done this many many many times, I won't cut or nick you, promise."
