News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Tony Gonzalez at work at Outlaws Barber Shop.
Tony Gonzalez is an artist and a craftsman. With intense attention to detail, he offers haircuts and hot shaves in the classic tradition of the small-town American barbershop.
"It's old-school-style barbering," he said of his new Outlaws Barber Shop located in Barclay Square in downtown Sisters. "I want to keep that style going."
Gonzalez offers a haircut and something a fella can't get just anywhere these days - a hot shave with a straight razor.
"It's just a nice, clean, close shave," Gonzalez said. "It's kind of a dying art. It's like a lady treating herself in the spa. This is the guy version."
Gonzalez has been cutting hair since he was 17 years old. He was the neighborhood barber for his buddies and the barracks barber when he was in the Air Force. He was deployed twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq, cutting hair on the side the whole while.
In honor of those who have served, Outlaws Barber Shop offers a discount to military veterans.
"I've had a lot of veteran support from the American Legion here," he notes.
Gonzalez moved here a little over three years ago. His father, also Tony, had moved here just as Gonzalez was going into the Air Force.
"I came out here in '02 to visit, soon as I could, my first leave, and I just fell in love with the place," he said.
The landscape of Sisters Country appeals to Tony's interests.
"I'm an outdoorsman," he said. "I love to hunt and fish; I've got the lakes - swimming, stuff like that..."
Tony and his wife, Cenobia, have three children, ages 17, 12 and 8. He says he appreciates the support Cenobia has given him in launching his business.
In keeping with the tradition, Gonzalez hopes to create a space for guys to take some time, hang out, relax. Customers can enjoy a complimentary beer with their haircut. He offers domestics and some good home brew crafted by his brother.
"His beers are excellent," Tony said.
Gonzalez is focused and clearly takes pride in his work. Barbering is not just a job for him - it's a form of artistic expression, not unlike his other gig: He's a tattoo artist.
Getting a tattoo license transferred over from his native California to Oregon entails some red tape, so he's not active now - but someday...
"My dream was to have a barbershop/tattoo shop," he said. "I'm just focusing on the barbering now."
Walk-ins are welcome at Outlaws Barber Shop and gift certificates are available if you know someone who would enjoy a haircut, a hot shave, and a beer while they sit back in a barber chair and enjoy a classic American tradition. Children are welcome, too.
Outlaws Barber Shop is located at 170 W. Cascade Ave., Ste. 5. For more information call 541-549-9000. Find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OutlawsBarber.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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