BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
The word “club” often times aligns with a feeling of exclusivity. That is certainly not the case with the good people of Dark Rose Club. New to the neighborhood, these boys are beyond welcoming and treat you like a “regular” on your very first visit. We had the opportunity to meet with Danny Matthews, Co-Owner of their newest Wash Park location on Old South Gaylord St.
Tell us how Dark Rose Club began?
Dark Rose Club began as a concept Ryan and myself had been talking about for several months while we were working at another shop together. We always envisioned a smaller, more personal shop as the initial concept. We initially were supposed to open the shop connected to a tattoo studio at a new development in the RiNo neighborhood. The development was way behind schedule so we all backed out. After that we decided to go find a space on our own and settled in the back of a multi-use warehouse in the RiNo area. This past February, the tattoo studio (The Little Black Church) found a spot in the LoDo area and we put 2 chairs inside that shop and have it now as our second smaller location.
What made you make the move from RiNo to Wash Park?
As most people know, RiNo is under major development all over the area. We were located right in the heart of it all. With all of the construction, every week, it felt nearly impossible to get to the shop with the difficult parking and access. Also due to Covid and the construction, the amount of foot traffic in the area drastically decreased. We started to think about the future of the shop for the next couple years and we decided that RiNo just wasn’t going to be the place where we could grow the name and business during these times. We started to look at more established neighborhood areas that had a lot of foot traffic and available parking. We also factored in neighborhood areas that didn’t have an established barbershop in the area. When we found our current location here on Gaylord St. we knew right away that this was going to be the place for us to be a part of the neighborhood and grow with the area.
It’s no secret that salons and restaurants are struggling right now. What would you like potential clients to know about how they can be of support during these crazy times?
This is a crazy time for all types of small businesses. People can only get haircuts so often and especially now, people are working from home while not doing much. The way you can support is to just spread the word about our business. Refer your friends and family members, write google reviews. We’ve seen first hand everyone in this area loves to support small businesses, and we really appreciate the love we’ve received so far from being on Old South Gaylord St.
What sets DRC apart from other barbershops?
I come from a background of working in the hotel/hospitality industry for a long time. That’s the big thing we focus on here at the shop. It’s not just about the haircut here it’s about the overall experience you have from the moment you walk in the door until you leave the shop. We don’t want to just be your usual barbershop where you come in, sit down, get a cut and rush you out the door. I think nowadays that the art of customer service has been lost in many different types of businesses. We try to cater to everyone and make it a personal experience for every type of person who walks through the door. We want to make you feel like a regular, even if it’s your first time walking through the door.
We love your aesthetic. How did you come up with your name and modern branding?
We always wanted to have a different name and aesthetic compared to all the other shops. We like the old school shops, but feel like sometimes that’s already been played out too much. It goes back to the earlier question of setting the shop apart from others. We want to make it feel like you are part of the club, from our decor to the music we play, we want people to have an experience. We both have always really been into European Gothic decor and wanted a shop to represent that. We liked the imagery of black roses and the black/white branding concept. We had the great help of working with Brent Thelen (Brent Thelen Designs) and he helped turn the ideas into the brand. He did an amazing job on our website and all of our branding logos. He took exactly the ideas we had in mind and made it a reality.
Can you tell us a bit about your staff?
We have an amazing staff here at the shop. All of us come from different areas and backgrounds. For most of us this is our second career that we have found. We have people who have been cutting hair for 10 years and others who just completed barber school a year ago. We think that helps bring all different types of styles and personalities to the shop. We hope that no matter who you come to get a haircut with you’re going to have a pretty much similar experience no matter what. We are very picky about who we bring on to the team because we want those people who want to be here and to make their clients have a great experience.
The Wash Park community firmly believes in supporting local and lifting one another up. Have you had a chance to get to know your neighbors on South Gaylord St?
We love all our neighbors here on South Gaylord St. From day one it’s felt like we have been here for a long time. Everyone is friendly and showing their support by either coming in for a haircut or sending in their customers. We’ve also tried to return the favor by telling clients who don’t live in this neighborhood to go try all the different places on the block. Also, at the shop I feel like we are out eating or getting coffee everyday to try and give back to the businesses here on the street. We’ve also teamed up with The CBD Suite, who have been amazing promoting us, and we’re doing some discounts between our shop and their shop when you purchase a service or product from one of us. We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this neighborhood and can’t wait for the future here!
Having a barbershop on the block is reminiscent of the old Wash Park days and feeds our need for nostalgia all while providing a modern aesthetic with staff that feels like family. I think we speak for the neighborhood collectively when we say we are so happy to have you here as part of the Wash Park family. If you are looking to support local and need a fresh cut, buzz or shave, to compliment your style and personal brand, get yourself to Dark Rose Club at 1041 S. Gaylord St. Book your visit online at darkroseclub.com.