A cozy trifecta of services lands in Downtown Guelph at new business La Poche.
Matthew Forbes has been cutting hair for the last eight years. He used to have a licenced barbershop with room for five people on Macdonell Street. The barbershop closed in 2020 and he started cutting hair at his home shop.
Now his new venture at 40 Quebec St. is a barbershop and bar, but also houses a co-working space and Saturday Seed Co.
“I think I'm happier downtown coming and going,” said Forbes. It’s different from his home shop and now he’s slowly getting used to people popping in to say hello.
During the day clients can come in for a fresh haircut or use the co-working space. People coming to work will have access to Wi-Fi and self-service coffee and tea for $2. A dollar from each purchase will be donated to the Royal City Mission. The co-working space is available by drop-in for $5 or a monthly subscription between $50 to $60.
Starting at 6 p.m. it turns into a classic cocktail bar with a small food menu of charcuterie, bagels with cream cheese and lox.
While Matthew’s Barbershop and Saturday Seed Co. are now open, the La Poche bar and co-working space will open within the next couple of weeks.
The difficulty around opening a place with different services is the city didn’t know how to classify his business at first. Forbes wanted it to be classified as a restaurant so the capacity would be 30 people. The city ended up classifying it as personal services which restricts the capacity to 18 people.
He’s leased the spot since December and it had to undergo renovation to include sinks for the barber area, bar and construct a restroom.
The place is cozy with an electric array of vintage art hanging on the walls, kitschy “cottagecore” tablecloths on tables and a couch next to an electric fireplace. "And it's kind of like you're in your living room,” said Forbes.
“It's dark, and it's classy. But it's also not pretentious,” he said.
He wants La Poche to create a sense of community within the small space. “I really get a lot of energy from my job from cutting hair and talking to people. And I think a lot of my clients, they also enjoy that experience.”
The name La Poche, means the pocket. Forbes thinks of it as a safe space stored with things that make people comfortable like mementos and souvenirs.
People are welcomed to pop in and play music. There will be a variety of instruments hung on the wall for people to use.
With a variety of services offered at La Poche it’s meant to diversify the business and help make ends meet.
Other businesses on Quebec Street have welcomed Forbes to the neighbourhood. He’s looking forward to seeing how La Poche evolves.
