Party-loving San Mateo barber celebrates shop’s 48th birthday

The Southern California native was self-taught but didn’t have trouble securing clients. He joined the Navy soon after high school, traveling to Japan and the Philippines, where he became the go-to barber. 

After a brief college stint, Stevenson attended barber school upon returning to California and continued cutting hair on the weekends. 

“We did a lot of partying. We were pretty wild,” Stevenson said of his two semesters at San Diego State University before getting kicked out. 

During the weekdays, he worked a food sales job, and not long after moving to San Mateo with his wife, Stevenson took a chance and opened Lash’s Place, which didn’t have trouble attracting clients from the start. 

But being a good barber — particularly for flat tops, the trendiest haircut at the time — was not the only reason the business picked up quickly. His gift of gab not only made him a successful salesman, but it also helped his foray into entrepreneurship. 

Stevenson immediately imbued the shop with his party-loving nature. The chairs and much of the decor are still green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, and the walls are replete with Irish adornments in the spirit of a holiday that most people would say reflects the personality of its owner. 

For many years, the shop threw a St. Patrick’s Day party, and even without the excuse of a holiday, Lash said his customers liked coming to his shop not just for the haircut and conversation, but also for the wine, which he’d also indulge in with them from time to time.

The business, which was previously downtown but has since migrated to Palm Avenue, is more quiet now, especially since the pandemic, with less celebrations and free-flowing drinks. But he still doesn’t have trouble booking clients, and anytime a customer walks in, the walls packed with photos and murals leave no doubt that Lash has not only been a beloved part of his community for years but is also a big sports fan. From signed Tom Brady magazine covers — whose hair he cut when Brady was little — to San Francisco Giants memorabilia, he has left barely any space left on the walls, leaving 48 years of memories for all to see. 

He also keeps autographed photos from famous figures, including President George H.W. Bush, which he got after speaking with Bush’s barber who was visiting. 

“He came to town to see his son, and I just said, ‘Can you get me an autograph picture?’ And he did,” Stevenson said. 

He said he’s had an unforgettable run thus far, and the rapport he’s been able to build with customers has been the main reason for the shop’s success. 

“I didn’t have a fear of talking to people. That’s hardened me up,” he said. “I’ve done very well.”