I’m always looking for tips and ideas about places to go to for MBIP posts. When I restarted in June, I pretty much had that month plotted out, but now I’m back to kind of running by the seat of my pants, when, indeed I am even wearing pants. A lot of times, when I’m working here at MBIP World Headquarters, I’m pantless, but that’s information that I’m sure you really don’t want to know. Anyhoo, the other day I got an email from MBIP pal and Contributing Writer Chip Joyce (look for his post this Saturday!) about a unique men’s barber shop in East Peoria and he said it would make for a great post. Well, I called and talked to the owner Lisa and told her I have a friend who’s been cutting my hair for years and did they offer any other services and she said they certainly did. We decided that I could go and get a straight razor shave and facial massage and that sounded great! Hang on to your belt loops, because before you know it, we’ll be in East Peoria getting ready for a close shave!
Okay, unhitch your digits from the aforementioned belt loops, because here we are at Menzoil Men’s Grooming Station And Barber Shop. And the sign says, “Open,” so let’s keep moving along.
Check out the Menzoil van! I love the red wheels, it balances out the black and white design very nicely. Well done, Menzoil! I just love it when color schemes work out like this.
The chairs out front are a nice touch, I already have the feeling this is going to be a fun place to visit.
Okay, time to go in the front door and check it out, a double unplanned obligatory front door mirror shot! That’s me and my friend Lisa, who’s going to take pictures once I’m in the barber chair.
Wow, the front room definitely has an elegant yet fun vibe to it. Check out the front, black leather lined counter...
Vintage D.C. comic book covers and a pinup ashtray. Very cool!
And here’s the pretty owner of Menzoil, Lisa! She comes from a long line of barber’s, in fact she’s a third generation barber, who lived in New York for quite a while, so it was fun to trade New York tales with her. When she first came in to the room, she asked Lisa and I if we’d like something to drink and I jokingly said I’d take a beer, thinking that wouldn’t be an option in a barber shop. Well, I found out that while they can’t sell beer, they can give it away and here’s Lisa with an ice-cold bottle of Dos Equis! I think I love it in here and I just may never leave!
This lovely lady is C.C. who also does barber duty in here. Nice to meet you, C.C!
Okay, let’s check out the inner sanctum of this clip joint!
It’s got the feel of an exclusive men’s club in here, check out the pool table! Lisa told me clients are encouraged to hang out before and after their appointments. Nice!
This really takes me back in time, Rock'em Sock'em Robots! I haven’t seen these since I was knee high to a bread slicer.
Check out the putting green!
Vintage barber supplies and utensils fill this wooden and glass case over here.
How cool is this? A vintage console stereo, this takes me all the way back to my parents living room where my brother Jim and I would sit in front of the console stereo and listen to records as kids. Memories are really flooding back in here for me!
I told you clients were encouraged to hang out in here and that’s exactly what Shawn is doing over here in the blue leather seats that line the front wall.
Okay, it’s shaving time in Menzoil, cheers!
Hilarity ensues as Lisa gets me all set for my straight razor shave and facial massage.
My glasses are stripped from my noggin and it’s time to put the razor to the flesh!
The razor has indeed met the flesh and so far no blood has spilled and that’s a very wonderul thing!
LIsa is great with the razor and with the warm shave cream on my face, this is really a relaxing feeling. And if you know me, I don’t relax easily. I can eat a box of Valium and still be dancing on the edge of a nervous breakdown, so this is a really nice experience!
Uh, oh, something’s distracted Lisa and that’s not a good thing since she has a straight razor pointing directly at my neck, what the hell is this distraction anyway?
It’s the guy who clued us in to this place, Chip Joyce! I actually told Chip I was going to be here and it’s nice of him to have showed up, but now enough of him, let’s get back to...
Me! And Lisa of course! As you can see, she’s just about done with shaving me...
And hot towels have now come into play. I love it when this happens!
I kind of look like the Elephant Man here. I am not an animal! I am a human being!
The facial massage is the best, it’s relaxing and Lisa applies different oils to your skin and it really makes the skin feel rejuvenated.
And you get a nose hair trim! This takes me back in time to an old MBIP post about my gray nose hair.
Lisa found some hair in my ears and that was more than just a little disturbing to me! Well, I just found one more thing to add to my morning obsession list, check daily for ear hair! It’s also one more reason to hope to holy hell every night that I don’t wake up the next day.
All done and my face really feels wonderful, the skin is tingling and my ear’s are hairless and that’s certainly a relief! Lisa did a fantastic job and I’ll definitely be back. She also does manicures (yes, they put the MAN in manicures here at Menzoil!) and pedicures. Well, my feet are a bit of a mess, so I’m coming back for a pedicure, so stay tuned for that!
But now, it’s time for...
Probably the best obligatory bathroom mirror shot ever! Thanks to Lisa for a wonderful and relaxing shave and facial massage, I’m definitely coming back! And thanks to my friend, Lisa for taking photos and driving! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
Menzoil Men’s Grooming Station And Barber Shop
300 East Meadow Avenue
East Peoria
309-613-1231
Related posts: Haircut 100—Dori Garrison @ Salon True, Floyd The Barber and Floyd The Barber, Part II: Shaving Grace!