Leo’s Clip Joint

Went to Leo’s Clip Joint again today 5−15−15 and as usual Leo did a very fine job. He is as smooth as silk, the guy doesn’t even look like he is cutting hair. I highly recommend this place.

Leo is one of a kind and bigger than life itself… he also knows how to cut hair and if you don’t meet Leo you are missing out on a part of life that only a handful of us are lucky enough to have experienced. Thank you Leo!

I am a local and have been coming here for a few years now. You can come at the same time on the same days of the week and you will either be the only one here or the last in a line of six or seven. There is no magic time to show up.
The cuts are good. Low has been doing this since he was a kid. He does like to carve tails in the back of your head though. In my case, it was around Christmas so I got a Christmas tree…

Leo is the man. He’s been cutting hair forever. The man’s skills are amongst the best I’ve ever seen. It is effortless. I stopped by to get my head freshly shaved on the way to a date. If I still had hair, I would go to him exclusively.
He’s quite the joker. You might get a show while you’re waiting.

Passing through town and I had some time to kill. I had some dim sum across the street at Sea Empress and decide I needed a hair cut. Leo’s clip Joint pops up on my local Unilocal finder and it’s within walking distance.
The place is right out of the 70’s, no really it has been there that long and the proprietor and barber, Leo, is manning the station. In fact he is the only one cutting, besides the 5 people waiting. I figured that since he has such a loyal following it couldn’t be all that bad and so I hang in there and wait for my turn.
Its old school and most everything is done with clippers. He obviously has had many, many, many years of experience and the cut was good, conversation was entertaining and the ambiance of the place was kitschy cool, without really trying to go for that look.
Probably wouldn’t go out of my way but if in the hood and in need of a clip, I would definitely stop in.

So why am I reviewing a barbershop? Because I would like to think that Unilocal is not just about food, it’s about life. It’s about memories, dedication to craft, personal connections to people, etc. So here it goes.
I grew up in the South Bay. Leo started at this location in September, 1962, a month before I was born. As I sat in the barber’s chair and chatted, looking out the window I remembered that Meiji Market used to be located across the street where a shoe store now sits. My family and I were there most every Saturday. When I was around eight years old I was playing on a shopping cart and smashed it into a glass refrigerator door, shattering it into a million pieces. I was so embarassed I walked out of that store with a cardboard box over my head. Good times.
So Leo and I chatted about people and things that have come and gone. Sakae Sushi, located next door, also opened in 1962. As the world spins out of control, places like Leo’s and Sakae Sushi remain. For the moment, at least. On this particular day, we were picking up sushi when my gf said, why don’t you get your hair cut while you are here? So I went in and I am grateful that I did. Leo’s is an institution. It’s not about paying ten dollars versus fifteen for a trim or anything like that. It’s about having a conversation with someone who has seen a lot of life, a lot of ups and downs and is willing to talk about it. When my haircut was done I felt a little angry and disgusted with myself for having such a hard time breaking out of my Supercuts mentality (sorry, Supercuts, don’t take it personal and don’t sue me).
By the way, my haircut was fine. On this particular day it was the least of my priorities.

Leos is a throwback to the classy barbershops of the old days. I am 42 years old, and alot of guys that went to grammer school with me still go to Leos to get their haircuts. People drive from as far as San Diego. Leo learned the trade from a very nice Italian barber who is now 92 yrs. old, Maurice, who still works there once a week. Maurice only uses sciccors, he’s been a barber since age 12 in Italy. your in good hands with either Leo or Maurice. $ 12, plus tip of course.

I’ve grown to like this place. After going to $ 10 to $ 25 haircuts locally, this is the place I settled on years ago.
The basic hair cut is $ 11. For this I get an even hair cut (no fixing it after you get home). He also uses one of those switch blade shaving thing like you see in western movies to shave the back of your neck (He better not sneeze while using this on me…).
Leo is the owner and has been here a long time apparently and he’s kind of a prankster who’s enjoying life and appears to have lots of local acquaintances and friends who stop by.
Once he left a tomahawk cut behind my head and I didn’t even know it, but he told me before I left. We got a nice laugh ya, but I’m not sure if I was amused at the time.
I like the barber’s chairs Leo has. Reminds a lot of going to barbers when I was as young 8 or 9 years old (different country though), nice to see some things don’t change.
All I can say is Leo himself does even, nice cuts. As for the Leo’s employees who come and go you kind of take a chance but most gave good cuts.