Having decided that I needed a haircut, I went to the Bell Buoy Barber Shop at 9769 Second Street in Sidney. It was shuttered and locked. A sign on the door asked patrons to phone for an appointment during July and August. So it was off to Fifth Street Barbers at 9711 Fifth Street. It too was closed. A very faded hand-written sign, almost illegible, indicated their hours of business were something like 11 am to 2:45 and then 3:30 to 6 pm.
I returned the next day, having chosen a time when they should have been open. Still locked and no one around. The newspaper that was there yesterday afternoon had been picked up...
So it was off to Dave's Barber Stylist at 2423 Beacon Avenue. The portable sign outside on Beacon Avenue said they were open and welcomed walk-in customers. However, the lights were on but no one was home.
I checked out Beacon Barber Stylist at 2448 Beacon Avenue. Unfortunately they closed at 4 pm and it was 4:05. So, off to Sidney Barber at 9843 Second Street, the other end of town from Bell Buoy. They too were closed and a sign in the window indicated staff were on holidays for 10 days.
So back to get my car, which I had parked near Fifth Street Barbers. Walked by Dave's Barber Stylist again and checked it out - the "we're open" sign was still out front but no sign of Dave or anyone else. Fifth Street Barbers were still AWOL too.
So I went to Island Haircutters at 9810 Seventh Street. Miraculously they were open (from 9 am to 7 pm, no less) and welcomed me inside. After a five-minute wait I was taken to a chair and given a very nice haircut with just scissors and a comb. In 10 minutes I was on my way, a satisfied customer. It cost a little bit more than I would have paid at the Bell Buoy for a haircut and a beard trim but I didn't have to wait several days. Can't say anything about other shop's prices as most of them weren't motivated enough to show up for work
My only complaint about Island Haircutters was that a small table with shampoo bottles and such was placed in front of their price list so the bill was a bit of a surprise. But I saved $6.50 by trimming my beard at home.
It's worth it to me to be able to walk in to a reliable shop and get a decent haircut without wondering who's open and who's not really there but claims to be. I'll go back to Island Haircutters in the future and get my walking exercise done in more productive ways. read more
