Three brothers turn Denver barbershop into the largest chain in the United States

In Denver, United States, three brothers built one of the country's largest barbershop chains starting from an unlikely scenario: none of them had prior experience in the hair industry. Bill, Rob, and Paul O'Brien opened the first Floyd's 99 Barbershop location in 2001 after leaving the sports concessions business to seek greater autonomy over their ventures.

The choice of initial location was strategic. The shop was located in an empty building next to one of the city's busiest nightclubs, ensuring visibility and a constant flow of customers. To attract the public, the team decorated the walls with musical poster collages, connecting haircut trends to music culture and establishing a unique identity.

The business model positioned itself between high-end salons and budget chains, offering specialized cuts at an affordable price. The proposal was to be for everyone, serving men, women, children, and clients of all ages, regardless of the desired hairstyle. This approach allowed the shop to fill with a diverse generational mix, exactly as the founders had planned.

Growth was rapid: nine months after opening the first location, the brothers were already operating three other shops in Denver. In 2026, the network counts 144 locations spread across 19 American states. Success is attributed to the philosophy that a vibrant culture in the workplace is as important as the technical quality of the cuts.

A central pillar of the company is the value "people first," supported by concrete benefits such as health insurance from the start and a family support fund, financed by part of sales. Additionally, after Paul's daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, the network donated more than two million dollars to research on the disease.

For the future, the brothers focus on education and training, seeking to maintain the local essence of the brand even with national expansion. As Rob O'Brien stated, "it's not about how many we open, but how many cool places we build with cool people".