Ribbon Cutting at 'Outlaw By Jazz' Barber Shop & Salon

, a hair styling place with a mechanic's garage motif, held a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday. Recognizing the shop's year-and-half in business was the Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chamber of Commerce, and various elected officials.

Diana Williams and Jen Svejda of the Chamber were in attendance and presented a plaque to Jazz Monroe, owner of Outlaw by Jazz; Fred Flores, director of community relations for Congressman Howard Berman, and Erik Rodriguez, field representive for State Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, presented certificates to Monroe.

Before the ribbon cutting ceremony, Monroe addressed the attendees and gave some history about how the Tarzana shop got its start, and explained why things like mechanic's tool boxes, license plates and objects that resemble car interiors or auto body parts decorate the Ventura Boulevard location.

"We opened up a year-and-a-half ago,"  Monroe said. "We're doing good, because we're still here!"

Cheers and whistles erupted from the crowd, and Monroe acknowledged her staff and shop manager.

Monroe told the audience she chose Tarzana because it was close to her son's school, and the shop's location allowed her to "be a business owner, and be a mom."

Monroe said the business concept is to be a place where "the entire family can get their hair needs met. Kids, moms, husbands, teenagers."

Monroe then told the crowd, "If you look at Yelp (a crowd-sourced business rating website), we're not disappointing. We're five stars."

Monroe said that her business emanated from a chance moment in Studio City. She was driving past the Floyd's barber shop on Moorpark Street, and a "blonde in a little polka-dotted dress" cutting hair in the window, caught her eye. "I said, turn around! I want to know what that place is!" At the time, Monroe was looking for a job.

She eventually was hired at the Studio City Floyd's, where she honed her skills in cutting hair, and worked for them for almost five years.

Monroe told the audience that although she respects the Floyd's owners very much, they declined to offer her a franchise in their business. 

Monroe said, "They told me, you want to franchise? You're a woman... maybe you should think about running my shop. And I said, shame on you! I'm going to take you out."

Outlaw by Jazz is now a competitor of Floyd's, but Monroe acknowledges that "the brothers of Floyd's taught her a lot, even though they didn't want to bring her on board."

Monroe was asked where the nickname "Outlaw" came from. She said she got the name from her father, because he told her "he couldn't control her."

Monroe pointed out the motorcycle displayed in the window. "That's Mom's Harley in the window," she said. She also mentioned that her mother, father and brother all passed away, and within a short span of time from each other.

Monroe said her father taught her a lot about business.

"My Dad told me, Jazz, you better open up your own business," Monroe said. "Because you're going to get fired from evey job you get!" The crowd broke out in laughter.

 19307 Ventura Blvd Tarzana, CA 91356  818-342-5299