Romualdo Sanchez
Staff Writer
For those looking to get a haircut, beard trim or perhaps a new hairstyle, the Storks Social Club, an unusual new barber shop in downtown La Verne is ready to accommodate these and more grooming needs.
“It’s a social club, so with every haircut we offer complimentary drinks if you are 21 and over,” said the Stork Social Club manager Jose Cejudo. “We’re looking to bring more clientele so we can start hiring more barbers,”
The Club – at 2125 Bonita Ave., between the First Citizens Bank and the Church of the Brethren – has a mellow vibe as ’90s music plays in the background.
It also offers hot lather shaves, head massages and more, with prices for various services ranging from $25-$35.
The shop opened in April.
Many of the barbers at the Stork Social Club have interesting stories as to how they began.
Alex Cervantes was once a customer at Wolf and Rye, a barber shop in Claremont and who at the time was pursuing a career to become an art professor.
But Cervantes said he developed a passion for cutting hair, and started asking her stylist questions about how she, too, could do similar work.
“Eventually I was just told, ‘you know what, you should just do it’,” Cervantes said.
After a few months of cosmetology school Cervantes did.
“The industry … growing, and it’s very inspiring to see a lot of female barbers become successful because it is a male dominated industry,” Cervantes said. “That pushed me to take the next step and change my career path.”
Cervantes said that in a sense she is still in the art industry, because being a barber is not just about cutting hair.
“There is hair color, the actual style and even designs in the hair.”
Some of the barbers at Stork are just beginning their careers, while others have been in the industry for several years.
“I came from another local barbers hop,” said Julian Mendez, another barber at the Stork. “I’ve enjoyed how the community and other local businesses came and have shown their support,”
Some clientele at Stork followed their hair cutters there from other shops, while others appreciate the local shop’s convenience.
“My normal barber moved,” said high school student Joel Martinez, who would commute about 30 miles to get a haircut. “What I like is that it’s closer to home.”
Cejudo said that because of the building’s design, it’s a little hard to find the place.
“Because it doesn’t say barber shop, people walk in and ask what our social club is,” Cejudo said.
For more information, call 840-205-9668 or visit storksocialclub.com.
Romualdo Sanchez can be reached at romualdo.sanchez@laverne.edu.
Romualdo Sanchez is a junior journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism and a staff writer for the Campus Times.
Sheridan Lambrook
Sheridan Lambrook, a senior journalism major with a concentration in visual journalism, is photography editor and a staff writer for the Campus Times.
