Barber takes man-cave concept to a whole new level

Loaded Dice Boston Barber owner Rick Sullivan cuts hair Wednesday as a waiting patron sips a beer. Below, Sullivan clipping and chatting, and a look at the TV lounge area. (Harrison Thorp photos)

ROCHESTER - Rick Sullivan calls it a combo “man cave, sports bar and male hangout.”

You might call it the coolest barber shop ever.

Sullivan, the owner of Loaded Dice Boston Barbers, opened his second barber shop in Rochester this past March, and the trademark red-and-black décor, regulation pool table, lounge area and wide-screen TV has endeared itself already to a growing crew of Loaded Dice devotees.

Sullivan opened his first barber shop in Dover five years ago on Fourth Street across from St. Mary’s Church.

Loaded Dice is by no means your average Joe the Barber shop.

Patrons can shoot pool while they’re waiting for a cut, or have a beer.

And when it’s their turn, they’ll find Sullivan and his other staff barbers will do things that most barbers haven’t done in decades like a straight-edge shave with a hot towel.

A haircut is $12. A haircut and shave is $25.

And the beer you had while waiting is on the house.

“Hey, we’re by no means a bar, but if a guy want to have a beer while he’s waiting for a haircut, I say go for it,” said Sullivan on Wednesday as he cut the hair of a regular customer.

Sullivan’s next customer was a youngster, no more than 7, but his dad says he loves coming to see Rick the Barber. 

“Kids will actually ask their parents, ‘When can I go get a cut from Rick,’” he says. “They think the place is cool.”

Of course Sullivan IDs anyone having a beer, and only children over the age of 13 can shoot pool, but there’s no mistaking the grown-up ambience is a turn-on for youngsters.

A couple of huge sofas sit in front a wall TV. The heavy accent of red and black, including a signature red-and-black checkered linoleum floor, all seem reminiscent of a more opulent, more masculine era of the past. The place is definitely hip.  

That’s the atmosphere Sullivan wanted to create.

“This is definitely male-oriented,” he said.

Sullivan’s barbers are all younger and appeal to the younger set. A former nine-year Marine who grew up in Braintree, Mass., and has lived in North Berwick, Maine, for 21 years now, he said he’s the “old man of the bunch.”

Sullivan said he would be adding a tattoo room in the near future at his Lilac Plaza North Shop at 193A Wakefield Street.

Another service Loaded Dice provides is availability.

His shops are open every day, Monday-Saturday till 8 p.m., and Sundays till 2 p.m.

You won’t see a “Gone Fishin” sign on these doors, he says.

Sullivan’s goal is to add two more shops in the next five years, he said, one in Southern York County and one in Laconia, N.H.

“What we have here is a modern, clean barber shop,” he said. “That caters to men.”

It appears that men of all ages are liking it.

For more info go to loadeddicebostonbarbers.com