SYRACUSE,N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – For almost 60 years, Collins Barber and Beauty Shop has been a gathering spot not only to get a haircut, but also to share stories and discuss current events.
The barber shop has seen changes over time, like moving locations, but the conversations seem to stay the same.
“I’ve heard many people say over and over that we are a staple in the community. We’re a pillar in the community,” said Charleston Collins, whose father started the business.
A Family Affair
The shop first opened up in 1967 by Carlton Collins. In 1983, Collins and his wife, Juanita, moved the location to South Crouse Avenue before settling into its current spot on Erie Boulevard.
Carlton and Juanita’s youngest son, Charleston Collins, has run the shop since Carlton passed away in 2014.
“My father provided the atmosphere for the family to create income for themselves. Working with family is good as long as you can get along,” said Collins.
Evolution of Shop Talk at Collins
Don Johnson has been getting his haircut at Collins Barber and Beauty Shop since 1989, when he first moved to Syracuse. Johnson says the conversations in the barbershop were important to keep up with the world.
“People used to come in on Saturday morning and hang out and gossip about what the world was up to and what people were doing,” said Johnson.
Johnson also mentioned that barbershops in general were once more of a social gathering than a business like many are today. One of the things that stood out about Collins Barber and Beauty Shop to him is it being family-operated.
“Definitely, family oriented, I mean from the father, the siblings I’ve known, all the kids and the grandkids. It’s a generational thing versus most barber shops,” said Johnson.
Charleston Collins, who considers himself an old-school barber, says the shop has evolved in some ways.
“I came up with the you know straight razor, and the certain ways you cut and that kind of thing that I learned from my father,” said Collins. “Things have changed as far as the styles of clippers and those different types of things that are new right now and the hairstyles have changed. You can see the black and white posters and then the ones in color, which are even kind of old.”
Collins said he still sees similarities in discussion from the past and the present.
“Very similar, definitely politics nowadays, talking sports all the time. It kind of changed a little bit because of Covid,” said Collins. “We were a place where we did not do appointments but because of Covid, we were forced into doing appointments. Before then, there was a barbershop full of people who were talking football, people arguing, complaining, and we kept it clean with all that kind of stuff. But it was just a fun time. People associating with each other.”
Collins wants to make sure all customers feel like they are at home.
“We expect everyone to act with respect when they come in and we do our best to treat them with respect. We want grandma to be able to come in with her grandchildren and be comfortable while she’s waiting for her grandkids.”
Tyson Collins, Charleston’s son, has been cutting hair in Collins for 14 years now but admits at first he had no interest in joining the family business.
“I tell the same story, I wasn’t trying to be here. I was trying to find other things to do then my dad brought me in here,” said Tyson, “He did to me what my grandad did to him. I was trying to avoid it and got brought up in here and I’m happy it worked out that way.”
Tyson says that the conversations have included the same variety since he’s been working at the shop.
“You get the football talk, politics talk, religion talk. People come in to chat, have fun. We try and make it where everybody can enjoy themselves, where it can be decent around here. Where everybody can feel comfortable.”
Video Transcript
Tyus Sansbury, Reporter: “Clippers and conversations are what you will hear at Collins Barber and Beauty Shop. The shop has been serving Syracuse community for over 55 years. Long-time customer Don Johnson says the conversations still include the usuals.”
Don Johnson, Customer: “People used to come in on Saturday morning and hang out and gossip about the world was up to and what people were doing.”
Tyus Sansbury: “The barbershop has seen changes over time like moving locations, but the conversations seem to stay the same. Charleston Collins who took over the shop after his dad, Carlton Collins, passed away says he still sees similarities in discussion from the past and the present.”
Charleston Collins, Owner: “Very similar, definitely politics nowadays, talking sports all the time.”
Tyus Sansbury: Collins says the atmosphere of the shop has changed since Covid.
Charleston Collins: Before then there was like a barbershop full of people talking football, people arguing, complaining, you know, we kept it clean, all that kind of stuff. It was just a fun time. People associating with each other.”
Tyus Sansbury: “Charleston son, Tyson Collins, who’s been working in the shop for 14 years says the talks have included the same variety since he’s been around.”
Tyson Collins, Barber: “You get the football talk, politics talk, religion talk. People come in chat, have fun. We try and make it where everybody can enjoy themselves, where it can be decent around here. Where everybody can fill comfortable.”
Tyus Sansbury: “No matter the topics people will discuss in the barbershop, the open dialogue will be a key part of shop. Tyus Sansbury … N-c-c news.”