Larry's Barber Maximus 1 | Submitted
New and exciting things are happening for Larry's Barber College.
On Thursday, Sept. 23, Larry's will host the grand opening of its first standalone barber shop, located in the Walmart at 8331 S. Stewart Avenue in Chatham. The shop, called Larry's Barber Maximus, is the second Black-owned barber salon stationed in Walmart in the retailer's history, according to Larry's Barber COO, Adam Farmer.
"From the way we look at it, this is two-fold," Farmer told Suburban Marquee. "We believe that there is an opportunity to show future barbers and cosmetologists that they can run a multi-million-dollar shop in a corporate setting like Walmart. Walmart is a big corporation, and you can own one of these shops inside of that corporation and still make top-line revenue."
Larry's Barber Maximus
| Submitted
Larry Roberts Jr. opened Larry's Barber College in 2004 in Chicago and a second location in 2006. Roberts currently has a additional locations in Joliet and the Cook County Jail. More than 300 men and women have graduated from the Cook County Jail location since opening in 2010.
The jail campus is funded through a non-profit organization founded and operated by barber college owner and founder, Larry Roberts Jr. The non-profit, Data Foundation Inc., seeks to help at-risk Chicagoland youth between the ages of 16 and 25.
The new Walmart standalone salon, Larry's Barber Maximus, employs entirely commission-based barbers and cosmetologists, some who are graduates of Larry's college.
Farmer explained that Larry's wanted to provide its professionals a better leg up in starting their own business, by ensuring that they are commission-based with health benefits and W-2s, rather than being cash-only contractors.
"[Service providers] are used to going into a neighborhood shop and paying booth rent," Farmer said.
The Maximus team has been up and running since the shop's soft launch on Sept. 1. The grand opening on September 23 will be an all-day affair with founder Larry Roberts Jr. and Walmart corporate staff present to celebrate the new location, Farmer said.
A family trip to the Chatham Walmart can now check off more boxes than a haircut and grocery shopping, as limited esthetician services – including eyelashes, eyebrows and nail technician services – are offered at Larry's Barber Maximus too.
"We have a full-time reception staff who will greet you and help you check out. [We want to] use this as a model to create a great customer experience and help the students that come from the barber college. Now they have a place where they can intern in a real-world environment," Farmer said.
The future appears bright for the Walmart–Larry's Barber Maximus partnership. Farmer said that Larry's wants to open another Walmart location owned by the Larry's corporation and, after the first two are settled, begin franchising.
The first location's opening has gone well, Farmer said. With Larry's Barber Maximus representing a unique business model for the local Black community, customer interest has remained high.
Farmer said that the Larry's team is excited for the Chatham grand opening and the opportunity to continue opening doors for bright new barbers and cosmetologists.
Roberts himself started cutting hair in his parents' basement at the age of 13. He eventually graduated from barber college at age 18 and opened his own shop in Matteson, Illinois. He moved the shop to Chicago's Southside before opening his college. In addition to being a talented barber, Roberts is a published author and in-demand musician.
"Larry will definitely be there," Farmer said. "This is a big deal for him."
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