A salon, a man cave

Now I understand why women relish a day at the salon. As a male with a fondness for action flicks, the Phoenix Suns and all things high-tech and high-definition, the typical hairstyling setting is, in my mind, somewhat off-putting. Not anymore.

Guys take note: The Locker Room Men’s Hair Salon is open for business, and any questions about which sex the establishment caters to are quickly answered once inside. There’s a complete lack of the feminine flair that deters men like me from getting a haircut on a regular basis, replaced by a plethora of sports memorabilia and gifts, such as team-emblazoned items, that line the walls. Flat-screen TVs are mounted next to every station in the darkly painted interior, barking sports entertainment throughout the day. In an adjacent 21-and-over room, a bar with beer taps, a dart board, even bigger television sets and several cushy recliners beckons the Y chromosome within me.

“It’s a great place to just hang out, have a drink and maybe get a haircut,” co-owner and stylist Stacie Bishop told me on a recent weekday morning, as she wraps a hot towel around my face and shampoos my scalp with a menthol and peppermint infused hair product. “We have guys who get mad if there isn’t a wait because they want to just relax and have a beer first.”

With three stylists, the 1,800-square-foot shop has been up and running since July between Lake City Shoe Repair and Beau Monde Clothing Exchange near the Hayden-Coeur d’Alene city border. This is the second Locker Room to open in the area following the success of the original Post Falls store, founded three years ago by owners and relatives Bishop, Bill, Michael and Bob Delbridge, all originally from the Silver Valley.

However, the Coeur d’Alene expansion recently acquired a liquor license and is celebrating its grand opening.

For $15, customers get a hot toweling, shampoo, haircut and a drink to help ease any workday ails. On Tuesdays, the shop features a Father-Son special for $25 as well as haircuts for men 65 and over are $10. Other offerings include hair highlights and eyebrow waxing, which Bishop says is a popular service once the client gets over the initial fear of the unknown.

But the salon offers more than just haircuts for the testosterone-driven crowd. The establishment features a selection of sodas for under-age customers, while an ever-expanding list of beer, from Kona to Kokanee to Budweiser to a variety of seasonal selections, some of them on tap, fills out the rest of the menu. In addition to the adult’s only room, where the parlor-like atmosphere is accentuated by games, comfortable seating and two large flat-screen sets, there’s a wide array of sports items for sale, including professional and college sports caps, and hair products.

The place is meant to be a one-stop shop for men on the hunt for hair care, sports attire, televised games and a cold beverage, Bishop says.

And they know how to treat their customers. Shortly after the shampoo and rinse, Bishop guided me to a haircutting station, where all the accessories are kept in rolling Craftsman toolboxes. Once I am plopped in front of a 19-inch TV, she cuts while I catch some mid-morning SportsCenter highlights.

For Bishop, who previously worked 17 years in beauty salons that focused largely on women, the male customer base has provided a unique insight into the opposite gender.

“I always wanted to own my own business,” she said.

As for guys, “they are pretty laid back. You give them a beer and they are pretty happy,” she said. “As long as you give them good customer service, once they get used to a place they don’t really want to go somewhere else. They tend to be more loyal.”

After the haircut, Bishop encouraged me to return for future haircuts. Not a problem, I told her. After all, where else can you have a beer while watching sports and staying in style?