By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
Got Cut? That’s the question asked by the new barbershop of the same name located on River Rd. This fresh, yet classic take on the barbershop/community meeting place is the concept of Joey Lopez, a member of Pennsauken High School’s Class of 2002 and a graduate of Empire Beauty School in Cherry Hill.
“I got tired of my mom cutting my hair, so I started in my mom’s basement and built a clientele, cutting hair for friends from high school,” explains Lopez. “I started getting experience on my own, learning from my mistakes. It was a rough paper route.”
After graduating, Joey got his first shot cutting hair from Jibril Smitherman, who currently runs Pennsauken High School’s cosmetology program. And after 10 years at Classic Barber Shop on Westfield Ave., he was ready to make his “Got Cut?” concept a reality.
“I wanted to bring back the concept of the family-oriented barbershop where the focus is on comfort and communication,” says Lopez. “Back in the day, the barber was your therapist, your consultant. People came together and talked. We’ve lost that culture a bit. I want people to put down their phone and talk to the person to left or right of them.”
Joey went on to add that the “Got Cut?” brand, which was established in 2012, evolved from an extremely popular advertising campaign.
“I was trying to figure out a brand and I was watching the ‘Got Milk?’ commercial and it just hit me. Everyone needs their hair cut. Why not ask?”
The space is segmented into several sections, all designed and constructed by Lopez, often times using recycled materials for a rustic, homey feel that didn’t bite into the budget. In addition to the main room with several barber chairs, there’s a “Pixar themed” kids cut section, with a play area complete with Nintendo and Super Nintendo gaming systems, activity table, books, and toys. The ceiling there is painted as a tribute to children with autism. There’s also the “744 Lounge,” which offers a pool table, PlayStation 4, domino table, and dart board. It’s named in honor of Joey’s father, who was incarcerated from before Lopez’s birth and passed away in prison at age 56 while serving a life sentence.
“The time I spent with him, those 45 minute visits at the prison, they were filled with so much knowledge and wisdom,” explains Lopez. “The ‘744 Lounge’ would be the place my dad and I would have come to if he hadn’t been incarcerated. I wish that I could have walked into a barbershop with my father. To this day, there’s nothing like seeing a father and son come in and leave with a smile on their faces. It’s a big deal to me.”
With a soft opening three months ago, Joey and the staff at Got Cut? are ready to welcome you to the new family-focused barbershop in town.
“We welcome the community to stop by. You’ll get a great experience.”
Got Cut? is located at 7537-39 River Rd., across the street from Temple of Praise Ministries. The barbershop offers a frequent customer card; after 10 haircuts, the 11th is free. Business hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 6:00 p.m. For more information, call (609) 744-0356.
