I stepped into Metro Mania, the barbershop at 9014 Garland, to say hello to our new neighbors from the Texas Panhandle. The owners, a mom and daughter duo that just moved here from Amarillo, opened the shop in January. They offer head-to-toe services for men, which includes everything from a shave and a haircut to back and shoulder massages to manicures and pedicures, on every day of the week except Sunday.
If you’ve never made it west of Fort Worth, no worries; Cathy and Cortney Thompson have brought West Texas to you. After Cathy finished giving someone a trim, she excitedly showed me around the place, which was decked out in all things Texas and all things male — cowboy hats, baseball posters, cars, a deer head (who I think she said goes by the name Hank). But more than decor, Cathy says, “I like to believe that I brought some of the panhandle hospitality.” She certainly brought her panhandle gift of gab, and everything in the shop has a story. I’m still undecided on which part of her was bigger — her personality or her hair.
But jokes aside, from what I can tell, the Thompsons seem to have the background and passion they need to be good at what they do. “A famous man once said, ‘If you love what you do for a living, you’ve never worked a day in your life,'” Cathy says. “We like that concept.” She says they’ve gotten a lot of clientele from A&A Barbershop in Casa Linda Plaza that closed in August. So if you need a haircut, or even if you just need a friendly smile, drop by and tell the girls “Howdy” for me one of these days. I’d be willing to bet Cathy could talk you into a haircut, or at least a shave, and she might even give you a hug on your way out the door.
