When Cleavon Brewster, 31, of Pembroke Pines, set out to be his own man and open his own business, he looked to his heroes.
''It's the dream of all dreams to make your own difference in the world,'' said Brewster, owner of the new Legends Barber Shop in western Davie.
After nearly a decade of delivering quality cuts at Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning's upscale Cutz barbershop in Miami, in late March Brewster opened his own place, where photographs of Martin Luther King Jr., Mohandas Ghandi, Rosa Parks and other icons dot the walls.
Even Frank Sinatra has a spot in the shop at 15661 Sheridan St.
''Frank's from the Rat Pack, man, a very cool legend,'' Brewster said.
Rich cherry wood cabinets and oversized ebony leather seats with built-in back and buttocks massage make up 10 cutting stations. Vibe, Forbes, Esquire, Car and Driver and Sports Illustrated magazines line a coffee table in a comfortable waiting area.
Macho action movies like American Gangster and such comedy guy flicks as Why Did I Get Married? are available on two televisions. Sports channels also can be tuned in.
''This is a place where gentlemen can lounge in luxury,'' Brewster said.
It's the only urban chic barbershop in South Broward west of Flamingo Road, where down-home Davie meets the Pembroke Pines suburbs.
Erik Gonzalez, 15, of Pembroke Pines, who popped in bouncing a basketball and a full head of hair, left 45 minutes later with a trendy $15 fade. He called the place ``awesome.''
''The atmosphere is friendly, cool and classy. I've been to other places that were loud and a little rough. This is very relaxing,'' Erik said.
Brewster, a licensed barber, learned to cut, fade, blowout and Mohawk while growing up with a cadre of cousins born in Trinidad but raised in Brooklyn. The brood hung out at the home of neighborhood barber Carlton Reece, who taught Brewster and Brewster's childhood friend, Keston Charles, tricks of the trade.
Charles, 32, who also now lives in Pembroke Pines, works with Brewster at Legends.
''We make Legends a friendly place on purpose. Trinidadians are always friendly,'' Charles said.
Barber Marco Hurtado, 19, of Pembroke Pines, completes the cutting crew.
Haircut prices range from $15 for high school students to $23 for a design fade.
Government workers, including police officers and military personnel, get an automatic $3 discount. Razor shaves cost $5, and hot towel shaves run up to $10.
Brewster said he plans to add male and female hair braiding and coloring in the near future.
Eldin Shalaby, 19, of Davie, said he knew Legends would be his barbershop the minute he stepped inside.
''This is high-class -- five stars,'' said Shalaby, even before Hurtado began to style his hair.
How did he know to give such high marks? Shalaby said a man knows his barber when he meets him.
''And trust is the key to every relationship,'' Shalaby said.
