our STORY

It was just a small, empty, hole in the wall space in the Dogpatch district of San Francisco. And in a couple years, it became the Best Barbershop of San Francisco as voted by Modern Luxury and San Francisco Magazine. I truthfully didn’t know what I was doing in August of 2014 when I signed my first ever commercial space lease. I had little money, zero knowledge of how to run a business, bouncing around from barbershop to barbershop trying to find happiness, a one year old Daughter at home, and a set of twins on the way. We were living in my Mother in Law’s guest room surviving off food stamps and government assistance, driving a Ford Expedition with a broken side mirror hanging on for dear life. There was one thing that I did have, however, and that was a burning desire to open a barbershop in the neighborhood that I grew up in. I called it the Dogpatch Barber and Shave.

When I asked the magazine why we were given the title of Best Barbershop since there were other nicer, much larger shops in the City, they simply said that we delivered something that they didn’t see at other shops: a new art and a passion that you can see from a mile away. It didn’t resonate with me at first, but after some time, I did realize that I truly do love this craft and what I do. I went to College to study Kinesiology, but when I worked in the fitness and rehabilitation sector, I knew immediately that this wasn’t for me. I knew then and there that my calling was barbering. And it was the best decision I ever made. I was able to provide for my family, provide for my barbers, expand to a second location in Dogpatch, expand that location to a larger location in the neighborhood. Although that newly expanded location was set back by Covid, the original location was still flourishing thoroughly, even until this day.

Furthermore, the Dogpatch Barber and Shave has been featured in several media outlets locally and nationally, including commercials for Gillette and Chime, magazines such as Men’s Journal and The New Yorker, websites such as the Culture Trip and 7x7, amongst many more. We have had several guests from all walks of life, including member of the San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, actors, singers, rappers, media personalities, and more. Our favorite guests of the shop, however, are the local residents of the Dogpatch and all of the Bay Area. Without them, we would literally be nothing. And this is what the Dogpatch has truly become: a staple in the community, and a hub for people from all walks of life to come and converse amongst each other, free from the stresses of the outside world.

This is what i envisioned from the beginning. I wanted a community space. And I am more than thankful, because that is exactly what the barbershop evolved into. A diverse environment where men, women and children can enjoy themselves while they get pampered for the day. And we are not done. With the newly expanded Walnut Creek East Bay location, the Dogpatch brand is still growing, even after nearly 10 years of business. We thank you.

From Your Barber with Love,

Christopher Cream, CEO