Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Gutierrez.
Joseph, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up on the south side of Chicago in the Bridgeport neighborhood, there was 1 barbershop I frequented “cool Raul” was the barber’s name. You literally would walk in and the room was separated by cigarette smoke you could only see people underneath the smoke it was crazy, but once past the smoke, once you were in the bubble, it was like it’s own world of men. There was a lot of talking about the neighborhood about jobs and, of course, all the guys Wifes which as a young boy was so entertaining to me, it was its own world and at that time I never knew the impact would eventually have on my life.
Fast forward to about 1995-96, “cool Raul” was getting old and I was coming to the point where I was going home and touching up my haircuts, and my neighborhood friends were taking notice that we all got our haircuts at the same place but my cut was just a tad smoother. Just about that time, I was entering high school and I became the guy who was touching up all these not so tight haircuts, and that became such a snowball effect to which I was still unaware of how this would play such a pivotal role into my life and my career. As life went on, life took a lot of toll on me as I was what some would say roughly around the edges and got into plenty of trouble more than I’m sure can be explained in this short story, but once I cleared my head, I put my right foot forward. I worked at in about a handful of barbershops and they just didn’t fit I knew I needed to create my own. I learned a lot, gained a lot of friends, built a great clientele, but life was still taking its toll on me and I had to make a choice and once I did, I went back to cosmetology school and Barbering school, got my license and reorganized my life and started fresh. Moved out to Downers Grove, Illinois and started creating hair products for men, cutting hair, any chance I could, and long story short, from cutting hair in my grandmother’s basement to opening my barbershop and a men’s hair care line of products. I finally feel I’m on the right track, but I guess that is what makes one great, it’s the ups and downs that create and mold your story and my story is not over just yet, as a matter a fact, it is just getting started.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Grew up with the wrong crowd of guys, we were rough neighborhood guys. I was in and out of trouble year after year. Definitely struggled with alcohol & drugs through my younger adult life. Experienced a divorce. But now, remarried and happy as can be. Had to go to school and work day and night to obtain my license and then had no guarantee to even receive my license because of my troubled past, but I took the gamble, I finished school and fought tooth and nail for my license and I feel if you want it bad enough, you can achieve anything and I am living proof.
Please tell us about Burlington Barber Co / Chops Pomade.
My business/barbershop is completely focused on traditional Barbering and the art of Barbering. We celebrate real men and clean traditional haircuts, I still can do all of the new trendy cuts and styles but my true love is the traditional cutting style and barbering. What I love most about my company is that we are not your average joe “no pun intended”, we know all of the clients who walk in our doors and I mean we know them as we are family. You walk in our doors and you are family, that’s what sets us apart.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory would have to be just summertime in Chicago, it’s just not comparable. I really can’t give you just one memory but if you know Chicago in the summer, you know that “feeling” I’m speaking of.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5019 Fairview Ave Downers Grove, Illinois
- Website: Burlingtonbarbershop.com
- Phone: 630-644-4236
- Instagram: Iambarber
Image Credit:
Jose Torres
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