Collins, The Best Black Barber Shop In Town
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on Oct 4, 2011
I’m probably biased in naming Collins Barber Shop the top black barber shop in town, but that’s how I feel. Actually, at this juncture I’m not even sure if there’s another one, though I figure there has to be.
I’ve been going to Collins since 1975 when we first moved back to central New York, and it seems most of the players haven’t changed. The barber in the foreground is the elder Collins, and back in the day he was the only one Dad and I had to cut our hair. These days I have my hair cut by the barber behind him, Eric, and it works well because I have no idea how to tell him to cut my hair except to try to make me look good. My wife approves, it seems.
There is an interesting culture within a black barber shop, and I can’t say if it’s the same at other barber shops, but I know it’s not the same at chain barber shops. People just stop by a black barber shop and talk. It becomes more of a meeting place than just a barber shop. I see familiar faces here and there when I show up, but most of the time there seems to be at least a couple extra people in there just talking to the folks cutting hair, and sometimes just talking to each other. When they get to arguing sports, watch out! lol
As you can see from the second picture, there’s also an interesting history behind the place, as well as a goal. Mr. Collins has trained all his sons on how to cut hair, and now a couple of his grandsons also have been trained to cut hair. They own this little building that kind of sits out there alone at 309 South Crouse Ave, with many medical building around them and a few small restaurants close by. In the summer there’s this barbecue set up at the corner; one of these days I’ll have to show up later so I can try it out.
These guys support the Syracuse community, especially the black community. Upstairs his wife and daughter-in-law handle women’s hair; talk about keeping it all in the family. It’s a comfortable place to be, and if you want, you can get a shave or even get your hair colored as well. The price is reasonable as well, only $12, and I’ve seen other folks in there other than black people. Hey, once a barber, always a barber for everyone.
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This post has 2 comments
October 7th, 2011
I love the coca cola machine in the background!
I’ve not had any experience of a barber’s shop as I’m female, so not a black one or a white one (though have experienced the – to me – strange ‘unisex’hair places on occasion) but what your post here reminds me of is a black comedy series that was on British TV decades back called Desmond’s written by and with a West Indian cast. It was very funny at the time but looks very dated now, but the whole thing about it was the community ‘feel’ of the black barbershop and how it was as much that as a business place. Here’s a link to what Wikipedia says about it. There are episodes on YouTube if you want to look for any. (They might seem a little odd to you as, apart from the date of them, they’re set in London, England).
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October 7th, 2011
Thanks for that information Val. I read about it and it does seem like it would be neat to watch. I’m going to have to try to find an episode when I get back home, as I’m in a airport right now without the fast internet connection I’m used to at home. You should go with your husband one day just to see what it’s all about. 🙂