The scent of pomade and history hangs heavy in the air, a melancholic perfume that will soon fade from Cuchilleros Street. After 126 years of unwavering service, El Kinze de Cuchilleros, Madrid’s oldest barbershop, is preparing for its final shave and haircut. On December 31st, the iconic establishment, a silent witness to generations of Madrileños, will close its doors, not to reopen.
A Legacy Forged in Steel and Sentiment
For over a century, El Kinze de Cuchilleros has been more than just a place for a trim; it has been a sanctuary, a confessional, a community hub where stories were exchanged alongside shaves. Alfonso Sanchidrián, one of the partners, penned an emotional farewell on the barbershop’s website and social media, a letter that resonates with the pain of an ending. “We say goodbye and it hurts… because we love you,” the text begins, a heartfelt thank you to the loyal clientele who transformed the shop into a “meeting point and part of the lives of many people.”
The words are raw, tinged with a palpable sense of loss: “We write these words with a lump in our throats, disoriented (…) this barbershop was not made by one person, it was made by an entire team, day after day, with professionalism, affection and dedication. All of us feel this farewell as our own. For none of us is it just the closure of a job. It is saying goodbye to a very large part of our lives.” Sanchidrián’s poignant message also touches upon the familial legacy, mentioning his father, who brought him into the trade, and his son, in whom he had hoped the tradition would continue. “That this continuity stops today, also hurts.”
A History Etched in Time
While barbershops existed on Cuchilleros Street as early as 1848, it was on January 2nd, 1900, that El Kinze de Cuchilleros officially opened its doors at number 15. Founded by Eladio Gurumeta, a native of Burgos who had honed his skills in various central Madrid establishments, the barbershop quickly became a cornerstone of the community. It proudly weathered wars, economic crises, and even the 2020 pandemic, emerging as the first establishment to reopen in Madrid after the mandatory 50-day lockdown.
In 1958, the Coello family took the reins, introducing the barbershop’s distinctive aesthetic of colored stripes, reminiscent of the classic barber pole – white for foam, blue for water, and red for the blood of occasional nicks. A few years later, in 1963, the Sanchidrián family joined the ownership, with Alfonso Sr., followed by Alfonso Jr., and currently Guillermo Sanchidrián, the grandson. The 1990s saw the adoption of its current name, El Kinze, a playful nod to its address, while its characteristic Acha chairs, imported from Eibar, remained a constant.
Carlos Osorio, an expert on Madrid’s centenarian establishments, notes that the barbershop meticulously preserved various tools of the trade, including a sterilizer, a wooden cash box that predated metal registers, and traditional shaving bowls. These artifacts, much like the very walls of El Kinze, hold countless stories.
The End of an Era, a Hope for the Future?
The decision to close stems from disagreements between Sanchidrián and his partner, Rafael López, leading to the sale of the premises. While the owners expressed a desire to reopen in a new location, nothing is yet confirmed. This closure stands in stark contrast to the recent reopening of Riesgo, Madrid’s oldest drugstore, which found new life through a family pact and public support.
El Kinze de Cuchilleros boasts a prestigious list of past clients, including literary giants like Pío Baroja, Valle-Inclán, Pérez-Reverte, and Camilo José Cela. Actors such as Pepón Nieto and Fernando Tejero, athletes like Rubén Baraja and Ruud van Nistelrooy, and bullfighters Juan Belmonte and Joselito also graced its iconic chairs. These names, among countless others, are now part of the barbershop’s rich tapestry, a testament to its enduring appeal.
As the year draws to a close, so too does a significant chapter in Madrid’s history. The final days of El Kinze de Cuchilleros will undoubtedly be filled with nostalgic visits and fond farewells, a bittersweet tribute to a place that has shaped not only appearances but also the very fabric of a community. The quiet hum of the clippers will soon fall silent, but the echoes of 126 years of stories will undoubtedly linger on Cuchilleros Street.
Source: https://www.eldiario.es/madrid/somos/barberia-antigua-madrid-echa-cierre-pone-126-anos-historia-plaza-mayor_1_12866006.html
