By: Isaiah Collins, Lloyd Williams
Cape Girardeau, MO – Rick James, a seasoned entrepreneur and barber, has carved out a niche for himself in the grooming industry, establishing what could be termed “ a barber shop empire” over the past two decades. James, also an instructor at the voch-tech barber school, reflects on his journey from a troubled past to becoming a successful businessman.
James began cutting hair in the mid-90’s when he had to leave Southeast Missouri State University
The story begins when James, initially majoring in criminal justice at Southeast Missouri State University, faced setbacks and had to leave the institution. “I was attending Southeast majoring in criminal justice and got in a little trouble,” James recalled. Following this, he worked at Procter & Gamble for about a year until his omission of a prior felony on a job application led to his departure.
Motivated by a desire to work for himself and not be at the mercy of employers, James decided to pursue a career in barbering due to his artistic skills. James said “I have to do something I’ve got to be working for myself. I don’t want to be in the same situation of having an employer decide my fate like that.”
In a moment of inspiration, James then decided he would pursue a career in barbering because he was good at art. He contacted a friend Dwayne Glasper who owned a barbershop in Cape on Independence and got his first job cutting hair. It wasn’t long after that James got his first experience at running a barber shop when he bought the shop from Dwayne with the help of his father in 1996.
“I had worked there for about two months when Dwayne’s mother got sick, and he made the decision to return to St. Louis to take care of her I remember he asked me if I’d be interested in buying the shop. I didn’t know anything about the business side because I had just started, but at the same time I didn’t have anywhere else to work,” James said. Not long after he left the old location and moved the shop to another location on Independence closer to Sprigg St. This was followed by another move on Broadway close to downtown.
Over the years, James moved his shop several times, each relocation marking a new chapter in his business. In 2010 with a growing reputation and a loyal client base James then made a change moving his shop to upper Broadway. Suite 72, he said, he named the new shop after his daughter’s birthday and her overall “sweet demeanor.
The concept of a barber shop and lounge, however, only materialized in James’s mind a few years later after encountering a similar establishment in St. Louis called Dapper Gents. He recalls, “Around 2014-15 I came upon a place in St. Louis that was a barber shop and lounge called Dapper Gents. I was just in awe of how nice it was, I liked the concept, but at the time I didn’t think there was a market in Cape for it, and Cape wasn’t big enough really,” James said.
In 2018, sensing an opportunity for an upscale barber shop and lounge James embarked on his next big project, The Perfect Gentleman. I did my homework, conducting a thorough market research on the Cape Girardeau area, its population, income level, and jobs around the area. I figured Cape might be ready for it,” James said, “and Cape had started to grow.”
By 2021, The Perfect Gentleman opened its doors on 116 Themis, offering a unique experience distinct from traditional barber shops. James continues to operate Suite 72 for clients who prefer a more conventional grooming experience.
Drawing a distinction between Suite 72 and The Perfect Gentleman, James emphasizes what separates Suite 72 and The Perfect Gentleman, aside from the barbers themselves, is the upscale ambience. The Perfect Gentleman has a relaxed atmosphere we offer liquor, cigars, and a unique experience unlike that of any other barbershop in the area.
James currently has two barbershops, teaches at the barber school, and is a bail bondsman, but he would still like to open “a few more businesses, including a bigger version of the Perfect Gentleman. James said, “I wouldn’t mind another barbershop, in another location, something like this but bigger. I’ve got a couple of other things I’m thinking about that I’m not going to put out there. Not because it’s a secret, but because I’m not one to talk about things I’m gonna do unless I’m really going to do it.” James asserted, leaving the door open for future ventures in the ever-expanding world of Rick, The Barber.
