EBSC Member Spotlight – Carlos Alfonso Lopez
We’re shining the latest Emo Brown Social Club (EBSC) member spotlight on Carlos Alfonso Lopez (of OtterStop) whose story of passion, community, and making a plan to build the life he envisioned is worthy of celebration.
Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Carlos moved to San Diego with his family when he was just three years old. He lived in neighborhoods throughout San Diego, including Eastlake. Today, he calls Mountain View home.
At 19, Carlos began what would become a 22-year career as a Teamster at UPS. In 2010, his love for barbering led him to attend barber college. He started working at a North Park barbershop, but after just six months, he was let go for investing in his chair—a move that upset the shop owner.
This experience forced Carlos to step back and consider his options, but the passion for barbering was always there.
He worked full-time at UPS, delivering to some of the wealthiest San Diego neighborhoods, and cut hair part-time at home and art galleries in Barrio Logan. It was at this time that he realized barbering was his true calling.
In 2022, after executing a carefully planned five-year exit strategy, Carlos left UPS and opened his barbershop, OtterStop, in Sherman Heights.
What began as a three-person shop quickly grew to a six-person team, the OtterStop we know today. Carlos takes immense pride in the community they’ve built, focusing on helping clients become the best versions of themselves through support and accountability.
This sense of community is why Emo Brown resonated with Carlos. As he describes it:
“Emo Brown is like a community of people from different areas, all trying to include each other. Right now, every human wants to be a group of something, some kind of cause… Emo Brown is a collective of humans trying to uplift and help other humans. That’s how I see it.”
OtterStop, located at 2460 Imperial Ave in Sherman Heights, is a testament to Carlos’s hard work and dedication. New customers are always welcome to “make it clack” and enjoy $10 off any product in the shop.
Carlos Alfonso Lopez’s journey shows that with determination, a strong sense of purpose, and a focus on community, it’s possible to turn a passion into the life of your dreams.
