Old-fashioned shop celebrates military service

One theme that runs throughout Parks Barbershop—located on FM 1488 in Magnolia—is respect for military, police and firefighters.

Most of the customers are involved with the military or law enforcement in some way, according to owner Jason Parks, but it is not just the $2 discount the shop offers them that keeps them coming back.

The military is also well-represented by Parks staff. One barber cut hair on a naval ship; another was stationed in Iraq as a civilian employer; and a third is a medically retired Marine. Parks himself joined the Air Force in 1987 and has served as a civilian firefighter as well.

"When the wild land fires broke out in Magnolia, I actually went down and volunteered," he said.

He operated the hose for a booster truck and was on the scene for 36 hours straight, he said.

The walls at Parks are decorated with antique firefighting equipment, photos and more than 1,300 military patches brought in by customers.

Robert Vernier, a captain at the Harris County District Attorney's office, said he likes the barbershop's dcor and the regard shown to law enforcement.

"It's a friendly atmosphere, well-priced," he said. "I like seeing all the patches."

When the barbershop opened on FM 1774 in Magnolia in 2001, there were only one-and-a-half barbers on the staff, according to Parks.

"It was just me and one other person. I was a firefighter with the Air Force at the time so I only worked part-time," he said.

Today, Parks estimates his business—which relocated to FM 1488 in 2004—gives 300 haircuts every week and employs six barbers. With the help of his wife, Brenda, Parks expanded services to include a salon, where customers can get perms, highlights and waxing services.

"There has never been any decline in the 11 years that we've been in business," he said. "It's always been a steady growth—never a huge influx—just a steady growth."

Parks said his shop's growth reflects Magnolia's growth.

"You can see it just by going down 1488, how much the area has grown," he said. "It seems like every day we have a new customer. Either they just moved into the area, they just heard about us or they just noticed us here."

Parks attributes his success to his well-trained barbers and to keeping the old-fashioned barbershop spirit alive. The barber chairs are from the 1930s and the barber pole in front of the store has served as a beacon, drawing people in who are looking for that old-fashioned atmosphere, he said.

According to Parks, his shop is also one of the few places around that still offers a full facial shave with a straight razor.

"When you use a razor, the cut is much smoother than if you just hit it with the clipper," he said, "People like the nostalgia of the hot lather and the aftershave."

Parks puts respecting the customer and giving good haircuts above all else as his shop's priority.

"When most people find a barber that they like, they don't go looking for another barber," he said.

Parks Barbershop, 5818 FM 1488, Magnolia, 281-252-4088, www.parksbarbershop.com