As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we are thrilled to spotlight the incredible stories and contributions of small business owners of Hispanic descent in greater Arlington. This blog series aims to honor the rich cultural diversity and entrepreneurial spirit that defines our community.
Odyssey Barber & Beauty Shop is a small business that is much more than a barber shop. Owner, Ulises Garcia, is becoming a rising leader in the community by becoming someone he used to look up to when he was growing up.
“Growing up, barbers and barber shops were regarded as cornerstones and positive influencers in the areas they served,” Says Garcia. As years went on, he noticed a drastic change in focus from creating personable relationships to just making business transactions. This fueled Garcia’s fire to restore the values that he knew barber shops were meant to hold, “Bringing Odyssey to downtown Arlington gives me a platform for working to restore the more traditional values associated with barber shops where people are called by name and not by number.”
Garcia joined the Greater Arlington Community over 8 years ago after receiving his professional barber license. After working in a few shops in the area, he finally decided to take a leap of faith and become his own boss. This new venture allows him to do what he loves and serve the community that has welcomed him with open arms.
When asked what being a small business owner means to him, Garcia said, “Being a small business owner in the same community that shaped my career is a dream come true. The consideration and support from other local owners I’ve received is overwhelming and I continue to grow from the knowledge they pass down.”
Small Businesses will always be the backbone of the Greater Arlington area and Odyssey is proving exactly why small businesses are such an asset to our community. The continued need to give back to a community that has stood strongly by them is the definition of paying it forward.
Odyssey Barber & Beauty Salon is more than just a barber shop, their vision extends far beyond personal grooming. They actively participate in research and development efforts to find the correlation between quality personal grooming and positive mental health while also being active members in the community.
Odyssey’s future give-back events include a Christmas partnership with Metro Sports Field House to host a Jingle Jam which will provide toys and meals for some families in need.
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact them either by phone at (817) 754-8538 or message via Instagram for further information on registration.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and applaud the achievements of entrepreneurs like Ulises Garcia, it’s crucial to remember the significance of supporting small, local businesses. These businesses contribute to our community’s cultural richness and drive economic growth and job creation. By supporting businesses like Odyssey Barbers & Beauty Shop, we are investing in more than products or services; we are investing in the dreams, aspirations, and diversity that make Arlington a vibrant and thriving place to live.