Mojo Barbershop expanding into bigger digs in McCully

Mojo Barbershop & Social Club is expanding, with its second location to open in the historic McCully Chop Suey building at King and McCully streets.

“There is a lot of history, and we’re really excited to be taking that spot,” said founder and owner Marian Lee. “The space we’re taking over was the actual restaurant and dining area.”

The building’s ground floor has been subdivided in recent years, and Mojo’s space will fill about 1,300 square feet, larger than its 850-square-foot original location at 1157 Bethel St. near Chaplain Lane.

The original space has room for six barber chair stations, whereas the new location, now undergoing construction, will have eight, Lee said.

“We’ll have an expanded retail section as well,” she said, for grooming products and the like.

The business has been “growing really well” since the original spot opened four years ago.

“We’re booked every day, and we have to turn people away. It just makes sense” to expand.

The area is ideal “because it’s so central and easy to get to. It’s also close to UH, Punahou, ‘Iolani, McKinley — they’re all in that area,” and with plenty of street parking, customers should have an easy time. “There’s a ton of street parking on King Street, ever since the bike lane was opened,” she said.

The old McCully Chop Suey building “is a cornerstone of the neighborhood … and a lot of new developments will be going up” in the area in the coming years, Lee said.

Many old-line barbershops are what might be referred to as mom-and-pop shops, but Lee doesn’t consider Mojo Barbershop to be among them.

First of all, the atmosphere is a little more upscale than an old-school barbershop, it has a hipper vibe, and Lee’s husband doesn’t work with her in the business. She considers Mojo Barbershop to be a small local business.

Mojo was singled out by SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, as Hawaii’s Outstanding Minority-Owned Business for 2014. Honored in July 2014, Lee was invited to a gala in Washington, D.C., that coincided with SCORE’s 50th anniversary.

Services at Mojo start at $15 for a lineup, a straight- razor cleanup around the neck, sides and hairline, or for a beard trim; $40 for a straight-razor shave; or a cut and shave for $65, with other services in between.

Because it’s not just girls who wanna have fun, the shop offers a package deal for a groomsmen’s cut and shave party which includes pizza, beverages and applicable sports on the big screen while everyone is made to look sharp for their buddy’s big day.

Discounts are offered on “Mojo Mondays” and on other days are extended to college students and public servants, which Mojo defines as military members, police personnel and firefighters. Clients are asked to call for an appointment.

The new Mojo Barbershop & Social Club location will open in mid- to late November, with grand-opening festivities set for Dec. 3, Lee said.

Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.