Raymond Ayala & Jose Magdaleno

Iconic BarberHouse • Anaheim Town Square • Anaheim, CA

When one of the pros walks into Iconic BarberHouse at NewMark Merrill’s Anaheim Town Square, owners Raymond Ayala and Jose Magdaleno still have to pinch themselves. Their locally beloved shop has become a must-stop for some of the best baseball players in the world, and that’s just crazy! But it’s also a daily success story for two guys from Anaheim who took a chance at doing what they love.

Raymond Ayala grew up in Anaheim, CA and attended local schools near Anaheim Town Square. The shopping center became his go-to spot — where he and his family shopped for back to school, where he hung out with friends like Jose Magdaleno, and where he grabbed a burger and fries after school. Over the years, it became his second home. Back then, he had NO idea that NewMark Merrill owned the property, but the comfort and fondness of his experiences there cemented his loyalty as a lifetime customer. Little did he know that it would remain his “home” for the long-haul.

Fast forward a few years…Raymond and Jose had known each other for more than a decade when they both landed jobs at the same barbershop. Over the next three years, they mastered the barbering craft together — cutting hair, trimming beards, befriending clients, learning the hair game and having a blast. They clicked so well that a partnership seemed like a no-brainer, and they decided to open their own shop as a team.

One of the best decisions they made was opening at NewMark Merrill’s Anaheim Town Square. Not only is the location a prime spot in the midst of their old stomping grounds, but NewMark Merrill has proven to be a key component to their success. Just eight months after opening, COVID exploded, and put a major kink in the business plan. NMC was there to help. “They definitely supported us when COVID hit! We had many regulations we had to follow, and NewMark Merrill went above and beyond and found sources that could answer any questions we had “ said Raymond. The location also put Jose and Raymond right where they wanted to be — home. People they haven’t seen for years regularly walk in by chance and become clients and friends again.

Building a business has given Jose and Raymond the opportunity to embrace the responsibility and accountability that comes with ownership. They believe that an authentic commitment to the community is a major piece of their success. Their shop sponsors local little leagues, sports clubs and even the Angels baseball team. Seeing some of the pro players they admire walk through their doors as a result is icing on the cake. Jose and Raymond also continue to grow the business by broadening their scope. They’ve developed their own in-house hair products, and customers love them.

Business is booming for Jose and Raymond, and they know they’re doing what they were meant to do — at the place they were meant to be. Raymond puts it like this: “Starting a shop from the ground up has been incredibly fulfilling. When we step back and see everything that goes on in the barbershop we’re like yeah, we created this!”