11 February 6-12, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | MusiC | Baptist Health Fit Fest Free Admission Saturday, February 8, 2025 Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm Location: Miami Dade College West Campus Address: 3800 NW 115th Avenue, Doral, FL 33178 Scan QR code to register for FREE at BHFitFest.com. miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | Thanks to social media, Rivera’s tricked- out mobile barbershop drew an onslaught of mainstream coverage, including features in the Athletic, Sports Illustrated, and the Sun Sentinel. As word spread, he found himself draping his chair cloth over customers he’d never dreamed of meeting, much less counting among his clients, such as Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, who still visits Rivera for a cut when he comes to town. “Mind you, I’ve cut a lot of athletes, but when he sat in my chair, I was sweating. Be- cause you can’t mess up Deion — that’s Prime,” Rivera says with a laugh. “You mess him up, well, he’s gonna tell you about it.” The most unusual destination for an ap- pointment with a player? An airport runway. “When I first got the Sprinter van, [Uni- versity of Florida alum and NFL vet] Trent Brown was flying in on a private jet, and he was like, ‘Hey, I’m landing at such-and-such time. Can you pull up to the runway?’” Rivera says, adding that he had a friend capture video of the scene for posterity. All the while, Rivera has never forgotten what got him to this point. A tattoo on his neck reads, “Made in Dade County.” In fact, he still works full-time for the county, ensuring its public playing fields are maintained. He says he put in notice in early 2023 that he’d be retiring but hasn’t been able to bring himself to follow through. “I always said like, ‘You know what, Steve, if you ever make it to a certain place in life, always re- member where you came from. Always give back, regardless of where you’re at in life, make sure that’s a priority.’” To that end, he partnered with fellow Dolphins barber Jose Madduro to open the Players Lounge Barbershop in Davie. Named after the shop inside the Dolphins facility, the grooming establishment opened in April 2024. A second location in Miami Gardens is slated to open soon near Hard Rock Stadium. “I preach to my team of barbers, ‘You guys want to get to a certain level, you got to give back,’” Rivera shares. “’It’s not always about making money. Be mindful that you were once that kid that wished they could get a haircut from a barber who cuts their favorite athlete. “When we go do these events with the Boys & Girls Club, the kids are like in awe,” he adds. Rivera’s workstation in the plush space is easy to spot — it’s the one with the football jersey that reads “Canes Barber.” Rivera’s father painted the shop’s interior. Every Sunday, father and son spend the day cleaning the place top to bottom — a ritual Ri- vera sticks to as an excuse to spend more time with his dad. Last May, Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss walked through the door for a haircut, holding a signed football. It was a full-circle moment for the 38-year-old barber, whose chair at that moment was occupied by Lance Leggett, one of his first customers back at the UM dorms. “With his country accent, he goes, ‘Hey, is there a Steve here? There a Canes Barber in here?’ I was shocked,” Rivera says. I’m cut- ting Lance. He’s sitting in my chair, and he’s seeing his favorite player walk through the door — like out of all possible places, walking into this barbershop.” [email protected] Rivera has always found the time to make sure Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Xavier Restrepo receives a fresh cut for game day.
