Kelsey Shoemaker
In the nook of Fort Worth’s South Side Main is South Barbershop, a vibrant barbershop owned and operated by barber, Laleh Rezaie.
The barbershop gained its popularity by word of mouth with clients, other small businesses, and fellow barbershops alike. Laleh Rezaie is the reason people come and the reason people have continued to come through the door of the blue-studded building.
“I am my father’s daughter. I don’t know anyone who has worked harder than my parents especially with them being immigrants in the late 70s,” Rezaie said. “I saw him work twelve-hour days so I think it’s been ingrained in all of us to work hard. You work really hard and don’t start working. There’s more to life than just work, but it has paid off.”
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Kelsey Shoemaker
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Kelsey Shoemaker
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Kelsey Shoemaker
The epicenter of South Barbershop has always been Laleh who decided on South Main as her location because nothing was out there at the time and it was a growing district for small businesses. This month, Rezaie celebrated the three-year anniversary of her shop.
“This area specifically of Fort Worth is just so artistic and unique and culturally diverse. I had to be in this area,” Rezaie said. “I’m hooked on this area. There’s always something new to discover I’ve been so surprised and fortunate by the support I’ve gotten from people. There are so many woman-owned businesses in South Side that it is unbelievable. We are always singing each other’s praises and supporting each other.”
In her first year, the pandemic hit which was a crux for a lot of small businesses including the South Side Barbershop. Even though it was on the verge of her first anniversary, the shop managed to keep afloat through the connections and support it had.
“Sometimes you dig deep and have to say I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m going to figure this out. I’m going to ask the right questions,” Rezaie said. “Failure is not an option, but it very much is an option. It’s not the end of the world. I was so scared of failure but I thought if it happens, it happens.”
Another way to bring new clients in during the pandemic and after was Third Thursday. Third Thursday is an art walk on the South Side that occurs every third Thursday of each month. If a business has art in their shop, they could open the door to have people come inside. This has continued to this day as it has been a center for clients to draw conversations while being in the chair and a way to support local artists.
“I put this art installation up where I could just rotate artists out monthly and have things that were new and interesting. Most people who keep their hair short and come here every month will have something new to see every time. They can always look at the art and it’s been nice that diverse and variety of design in here,” Rezaie said. “I’ve been exposed to so many new people and art forms and even during the pandemic, I started painting. It’s made my brain work and is very fun to watch. It showed me anyone can do art and I hope people see it.”
When someone takes a seat in the chair at the barbershop, they feel at ease with the organic flow of the shop and the conversational intrigue of Laleh. There are strangers turned clients, clients turned friends, and new customers turned regulars.
“Sometimes I feel like all my clients are my friends, especially how well you get to know them over the years. You see them through new job interviews, weddings, and babies,” Rezaie said. “So we get to know each other and they’re all kind of my friends. I sincerely care about these people.”
There has always been something special about South Side Barbershop and Laleh. From the time she started barber school and started her own business, she has surrounded herself with positive people.
“The people around you are very important. Driving yourself is very important and surround yourself with positive people. You would be surprised with how far you can go with that. It’s never too late. The thing that has got me through life and business is to laugh.”
