Square Deal Barber Shop is one of the few remaining traditional barber shops, with an 89-year history at the same location in downtown South Pasadena. The current owner of Square Deal is John Halminski, the grandson of the original owner,  William Halminski, who started the shop in 1935. The Halminski family immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1903, first to New York and then to California.

In 1935, William Halminski was inspired by President Roosevelt’s idea of a “square deal” for working Americans and decided to open a Square Deal Barber Shop. William’s son Edward (John’s father) took on the role of barber and manager in 1953 after serving in the United States military in WWII.

John, the current owner, renovated the shop a few years ago, keeping the original decor and creating a beautiful backyard. Although he doesn’t know how to cut hair, he manages the business by signing independent contracts, with each barber renting a chair (and space surrounding it). When we walked in, we could tell that every barber was refreshed and happy with their profession and being part of this space.

The barbers at Square Deal still treat everyone kindly and equally with their good service. Their customers will bring their family and friends here because they feel the shop resembles their home. Community members enjoy coming here because of the friendly and pleasant atmosphere.

From the decoration of the barber shop, the old objects displayed, and the photos hanging on the wall, we can still vaguely see the original appearance of this historic shop. This barber shop also keeps pace with the times. It has a website and established social media accounts, such as Twitter and Instagram. Customers can make an appointment with their favorite barber online to design different hair styles for themselves. It is very popular among young people.

Thank you to the English as a Second Language (ESLN) students from Pasadena City College for partnering with us on this special project. As part of their U.S. Cultural Traditions and Social Change class in Spring 2024, the students gathered stories and information directly from local legacy businesses, capturing their unique contributions to our community. We are proud to showcase their authored profiles and celebrate their hard work. A special thank you to Huige (Amy) Wu, Shuxia (Mary) Zhang, Chun (Paul) Zhang  & Yushan (Simon) Wang for working closely with Square Deal Barber. Your dedication has brought these stories to life beautifully!