On West 7th Street, conveniently located across from the Tom Thumb shopping center, is the Gents Place, a barbershop and grooming bar. Upscale barbershops are gaining traction in recent years as men are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of self-care. So, what should men expect from a grooming bar? The Gent's Place walks us through their glass doors, giving us an exclusive and educational look at the growing market of men's upscale barbershops.
The Gents Place, headquartered in Dallas, opened to Fort Worth residents in 2021 and has quickly made a name for itself due to the unique experiences offered there. Once you cross the threshold, the concept of The Gents Place becomes all-at-once apparent; with rich, leather seating; dark, masculine colors and cement floors, this is a male sanctuary. You will most likely be greeted by Stacy or Cathy, both consistent faces at the head of the house. Part of the experience includes two complimentary drinks, all top shelf, which Stacy, or another friendly face at the front, will happily get for you as you are handed a menu of services. The menu is renowned for its diversity and a quick scan reveals why.
“We offer a variety of men’s grooming, we’re ultra-premium so it's not just going to be your average barbershop. It's a clubhouse barbershop meets speak-easy. Our standard, entry level cut is a personalized consultation and the cuts level up from there. Our five-course cut includes a face refresher, which is a mini facial, and a neck and shoulder massage. You can go all the way up to a seven-course cut which includes all of the same things as 5 but with a paraffin wax dip for the hands,” explains Jasmine Miranda, marketing manager for The Gents Place. The paraffin wax is part of the club's “hand repair” service which is their masculine take on the manicure and a separate room in the back serves as the pedicure room or “foot repair” area. It is the small details that are thoughtfully curated at Gents that make men’s grooming and self-care more accessible for those who have never experienced paraffin wax and may be a bit wary of it.
If you find that The Gents Place fits your lifestyle, grooming clubs like these offer cost effective membership options.“It definitely pays to be a member because every membership feeds a homeless vet,” says Miranda, explaining that a meal is donated by the club to a veteran for each membership sold, “our members are definitely here because of the culture and because we all share the same values and mindset towards our community.” Since opening, Gents has seen their community grow, mostly servicing Fort Worth businessmen who take advantage of their meeting rooms, some even bring in their clients and treat them to a spa day. All-in-all, Gent's seems to have secured itself as a staple on west 7th, a welcomed edition in a surprisingly growing field. And who doesn't want to support well-groomed humanitarians?