Shop brings modern hairstyles to the northwest

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This article was published 25/03/2019 (2715 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A group of friends is bringing a more modern concept of grooming services for the gents living in the northwest.

The team of six hairstylists recently opened Case & Park, a new barbershop located at 4-360 Keewatin St. on Feb. 1. They wanted to bring the same high-quality business that are usually found in the Exchange District to the clientele they built in the northwest.

Owner Casey Simbulan has been cutting hair for more than 10 years, and all the other five professionals have experience working at other local hair salons. 

“There’s nothing really like this in this area. A lot of our clients are from here anyway, and a lot of the guys live nearby,” Simbulan, 28, said, adding that when the location was available, he knew it was meant to be.

Case & Park has hip-hop influences throughout — most of the team members are hip-hop dancers. The big front windows brighten up the shop that is decorated with OVO + Medicon All Black Be@rbricks and references to hip-hop and pop culture. Most of the graduated cosmetologists have been inspired by famous hairstylists that work with celebrities, such as Scott Ramos, founder of Saint Winnipeg, to create their own brand.

More than just a salon, Simbulan wanted Case & Park to be a lifestyle. Aside from the services they offer, they also sell Case & Park swag like T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats.

“What I told the guys when I first wanted to hire them was that I wanted to bring something that they would love but also grow outside the shop lifestyle-wise. I wanted them to grow as an adult. I wanted to make it affordable for them to grow here and outside the shop,” Simbulan added. “I wanted to bring the whole high-end but affordable concept.”

Also, Simbulan added he wishes his business becomes a place to raise community relationships, hence the name Case & Park — the word “park” stands for Tyndall Park.

“I wanted to bring something new to this area. We want to grow with our brothers that we have here, but also with the community.”

Darryl Clyde, Christian Javier, Steven Francisco, Carlo Rodillo and Jeff Pamintuan said they think the shop is an excellent addition to the area and that it will attract a lot of the younger generation that lives in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

“I feel like the demographic that we attract here are more modern-day style kind of people, so they are not really conservative with their hair, they want to try creative things, and I think that’s what pushes us artists to get better,” Rodillo said. “It’s a good crowd of people that we are attracting to the shop.”

Pamintuan is one of the youngest and newest members of the team. He said he enjoys the work environment at Case & Park because they foster learning with each other.

“I can watch these guys cut hair while I’m not cutting, and the environment that’s here makes you want to come to work every day, and it doesn’t even feel like work because we are always joking around with each other,” he said.

“This is a dope experience to be together, learn together and grow together,” Francisco added. “It’s really good for the community as well. I think it’s an upgrade to the area and I hope we keep growing and learning together as a family.”

Clyde and Simbulan said dance is a big part of their business. Their career started when they were younger and would cut their friends’ hair during dance competitions. Now, these friends have become loyal customers.

“You built a lot of relationships with dance and the fact that I cut hair was a plus,” Clyde said. “Everyone from my dance team and other dance teams would come to me for haircuts.”

Case & Park is open from Tuesday to Saturdays noon to 8 p.m. For more information go to www.caseandpark.com or follow them on Instagram @caseandpark.