Tucked neatly behind Paxton’s Grill in downtown Loveland is the Railway Barber Shop. Judging solely by its simple exterior, you’d never suspect the wonderland that awaits inside.
ROCK STAR WITH A RAZOR
Owner Brian Maxson has been in this spot since November of 2021, and is masterful at playing with sharp objects. Highly sought after for everything from “just-take-a-little-off-the-top” trims to ultra-cool, signature haircuts like skin fades, The Loveland Flip, and The Joe Burrow. A longtime Loveland resident who is deeply committed to his community, Maxson’s been described as an old-school barber with a modern, tattooed twist.
IN HIS HAPPY PLACE
There’s no mistaking the interior of the shop is all Brian—an equal study in contrasts. Impeccably clean and well organized, but then there’s the hip music, eclectic artwork, cattle horns, taxidermy, live lizard, and … so, for a guy with such a unique, creative vision for his business, is it any real surprise that he wanted to add a full-scale arcade?
ARCADE FIRE
Not long after opening the shop, Brian began to dream of tapping into his lifelong passion for vintage pinball and arcade games to transform the backroom into an amusement space. When completed, the arcade would be available for clients to enjoy—but also a fun, safe space for any other kids and parents visiting historic Loveland.
Decision made, the hunt began. Working every angle of the arcade collector market, Maxson located the classic Frogger game first, then the next machine, then the next. Years and countless miles later, he’s hit the jackpot with a total of eight games for everyone to enjoy: Frogger, Cruis’n USA, Galaga, Ms. Pac-Man, Rambo, and Twin Eagle arcade games; plus Mata Hari and Gorgar pinball machines. As for favorites? Brian easily bumps Mata Hari to the top of the list.
GAME ON
According to Maxson, it’s roughly a 50/50 split between adult and youth players. Kids eagerly jumping in first, quickly followed by parents who can’t resist the sound of the iconic bells, chimes and flippers. Some pro tips for your own upcoming visit: all machines take quarters (Frogger is free), and there’s no change machine on premises. Arcade hours are the same as the barber shop: 10a–7p Tuesday through Friday, 9a–4p Saturday. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Open to clients and the public.
BUT … WHY?
After the years of searching, traveling, expense and maintenance, we simply had to ask Brian the burning question: what’s really behind this crazy idea of creating an arcade inside a barber shop? As the father of two young girls himself, the answer brings a smile.“I love opening up the world of pinball to children while also sharing a bit of nostalgia with their parents. Just be sure to bring a pocketful of quarters!”
JUST THE BEGINNING
As for the future of the arcade, there are big plans. Maxson’s goal is to expand his BarberCade space and fill it exclusively with vintage pinball machines. He’s always on the lookout for new acquisitions, so if you have a machine to sell, he says hit him up!
See it for yourself. The next time you’re in downtown Loveland with the family to grab a bite, bike, or browse the stores, swing by the Railway Barber Shop for a sharp new cut and quick throwback game of Frogger.
RailwayBarberShopLoveland.com | 106 Railroad Ave, Loveland