San Mateo’s Lion’s Den Shave Parlor is more than a barbershop

San Mateo native Henry Cruz Alvarez opened Lion’s Den Shave Parlor in May of 2023 and started out as the only barber in the shop. Since then, he has added two more skilled and licensed barbers to his team — but Alvarez said this is only the beginning.

The idea for the name, Lion’s Den, comes from the emblematic strength and power of lions and Alvarez’s ideas of transforming the location into a place where people can lounge.

The barbershop is not at its final stage of completion but the experience of a cut and shave are open to the public every day. With black leather seats trimmed with gold, walls painted black and lion decor, the barbershop offers a masculine feel for customers as they enter.

“We accept every walk of life,” Alvarez said. “It’s a community-based place that’s for everyone to share and experience.”

Alvarez is a big supporter of the community, with posters on his storefront for local events, high school plays and small businesses. He also welcomes a local busker to play music for his store offering him free haircuts in exchange.

As a business owner, he acknowledges the hardships of not having support when launching a business and pays that forward to others in the community.

The Lion’s Den team upholds the fundamentals of building relationships with clients. Everyone is guaranteed to be greeted at the door and, for those who are curious about getting a cut, the door is open to welcome anyone who passes by.

“You’re not just getting a haircut, you’re getting an experience,” said Andre Thomas, creative partner and client of Alvarez. “Very rarely do you find a place locally where you find something like that.”

The Lion’s Den Shave Parlor continues to develop its signature look with future plans to add plants, leather couches and televisions to resemble a feel of a cigar bar. Alvarez is passionate about creating a space that feels masculine, where men can feel comfortable and walk out feeling confident about themselves.

The services are not only limited to a cut and shave but also extends to scalp micropigmentation, house calls and what they call a “royal kings treatment,” which includes a premium haircut, scalp massage and indulgent spa treatment.

The Lion’s Den breaks down the stigma behind the femininity of spa treatments for men. As barbering has become a trend over the past couple years, Alvarez reminds others that the art of cutting hair used to be viewed as a feminine trade, especially within the Latino community.

Opposite to what many would think, Alvarez says his passion is not behind cutting hair.

“A good haircut is expected, but what I love are the different interactions with people, just talking, vibing and listening to music,” Alvarez said.

As a Latino barber, he hopes to inspire others, especially in the Latino community, spreading the message that, “if you work hard, you can be good at what you do.”

Alvarez claims that these are only his “humble beginnings” and is excited to look back on his starting months and feel proud of his accomplishments. By December, he is looking to expand his team of barbers and adding more final touches to the place.

Lion’s Den Shave Parlor is located at 236 E. Third Ave. in San Mateo. For more information visit sanmateobarbershop.com for services, barbers and booking appointments.