For as far back as many residents of the Newtowne/Carver neighborhood can remember, the storefront room at the corner of Leigh and Mozelle Streets has always housed a local barbershop.
From year to year, the name painted on the window of this establishment has changed, just as the people behind the glass have come and gone.
This summer, the building lay vacant for two months.
Shortly after the school year ended, Dalton King, proprietor of All Cuts Barbershop and the building’s most recent tenant, decided not to renew his five year lease.
Mr. King, a Richmond area-barber for more than 20 years, closed his shop at Leigh Street in order to pursue other interests. At his new All Cuts Barbershop, located in Lakeside, King plans to expand his role as a certified barber instructor.
Through his company, Virginia Barber School Online, King will continue to teach the barber profession using both hands on training and online instruction.
“I founded the first distant learning barber school in the state of Virginia... right now, I have students who are actually fighting in the Iraq war and taking the theory part online,” said King.
Two months after King and his All Cuts Barbershop left Leigh Street, the empty building found its newest tenant.
In late August, a bold-lettered banner with the words ‘Rock Barbershop’ announced the grand opening of a new hair cutting facility.
The newly unveiled Rock Barbershop is an attempt to break with the tradition of constant turnover that owners say has plagued previous barbershops at this location.
Barber Eddie Espada, known to his friends and clients as ‘Rock,’ is a former native of New York who moved to Virginia in 2004.
“I came to Richmond [from New York] with five hundred dollars in my pocket. A few years later, I own four stores here,” said Espada. “That just shows what can happen if you hold your ground and work hard.”
On their website, Rock Barbershop describes itself as “a place to hang out with the best barbers that Richmond has to offer.”
When asked the origin of his nickname, Espada spoke of a rock’s toughness
“My name, Rock, it signifies strength like Simon Peter, and that I stick together with my family and don’t let myself fall apart,” said Espada.
Rock Barbershop co-owner, Angel Maldonado, also known as ‘Guap-O,’ talked of how his new business is a franchise of another Rock Barbershop on East Broad Street.
“We’re totally different from [the barbershops] that were here before,” said Maldonado. “It all started with Rock years ago when he opened on Broad.”
Workers at the new Rock Barbershop hope to quickly establish a customer base in the community.
“Some customers will follow us here, but we’re looking for new clients in the students,” said Maldonado.
“Our business strategy will cater to the schools. Our next step is to target Union [Virginia Union University].”
Rock Barbershop staff said they plan on launching weekly promotions and offering special student discounts.
According to Maldonado, the appeal of Rock Barbershop also comes from its range of service, “we do everything… shape-ups, designs, dreads… there’s no boundaries.”
Additionally, the owners of Rock Barbershop want to re-brand their facility’s image.
“We want to make it more than just another hood barbershop,” said Espada.
For some MLWGS students, the idea of a nearby barbershop is appealing.
Christopher Richardson (’09) stumbled upon the recently re-located All Cuts Barbershop several years ago.
“Since it was right across the street, I just went there one day. Mr. King was always so nice to me, he was very fair and friendly,” said Richardson.
“I think that it is definitely hard to find a good barbershop like Mr. King’s nowadays. People always need a good barber, and today in our society it is just like ‘cut and go’… you’re now a customer and no longer a friend,” said Richardson.
In a phone interview, King described Richardson his “best customer.”
Extra Information about MLW Corner Barbershop
‘Rock Barbershop’
- Open for less than two weeks
- $12 adult haircuts
- $15 adult haircut with facial
- $10 children
- Special student discount
- Phone Number: 414-4073
- Located: Leigh & Mozelle Sts
‘All Cuts Barbershop and the Virginia Barber School Online’
- Formerly at Leigh and Mozelle Streets, now located at 1152 Wilkinson Avenue
- Call Dalton King at 264-0800 or visit his website, www.virginia-barberschoolonline.com

Rock Barbershop. Photo by Danny Yates.
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