Through out time, people come to the barber shop not only to get a haircut and a shave; but to get the news of the day. Carey's Avenue Barber Shop is no different. So come on in for a haircut, a shave, and a little bit of talk and news.
CoVid19 continues to affect the barber shop and the world around us. Read about the recent closure of the shop and the changes you can expect once the shop opens up this week.
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CoVid19 is Changing the World
What to Expect Once the Barber Shop Opens Again
In part one we looked at how things were before CoVid19 hit; how we were absorbed with life in general. Once the shut down occurred, I started cleaning out and rebuilding the inside of the shop. We saw new additions and you got to meet my grandchildren. In part 2, we’re going to look at some of the things that have taken place more recently. My hope through all of this is to provide you with a positive perspective on how the pandemic has affected things here and how we’re still moving forward and keeping this dream alive. So don your face mask, keep a good social distance, and we’ll walk together through this.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining or begging for money; but when your primary source of income is shut off, you have to get creative or you might starve. I’ve been fortunate. Many of my friends and customers have come forward to help me out in fantastic and awesome ways.
Some friends have simply sent money and asked I pay it forward. To that end, I will be looking for ways to provide haircuts to those in need. If you know someone who might need a haircut or a shave; but does not have the funds to pay for it, please call the shop at 570-822-1450. I will be happy to help them out at no charge.
Other friends have sent notes of encouragement, purchased loyalty cards, and have called or texted to make sure my needs and my family’s needs were met.
My daughter set up a T-Shirt fund raiser to sell shirts with the barbershop logo. To date, the sale has gone tremendously well. The shirts will be delivered sometime in July. I am absolutely amazed at the outpouring of support.
The City of Wilkes-Barre came through in a big way. The city offered small businesses, impacted by the pandemic, no interest loans. This money came through at just the right time and ensures the business will open once Luzerne County is at the Green phase.
Mayor Brown and me
Once the shop opens again, all customers will be seen by appointment only. I have created a new appointment scheduling page through my website provider, SquareSpace. You can make your next appointment by selecting the”Make an Appointment” link on the website menu. The new system is much cleaner and allows you to better customize your visit.
Barbering has always had strict sanitation requirements. From using Barbicide to soak and sanitize the combs; to every customer wearing a Sanek neck strip; washing hands before and after every customer; and spray sanitizing all implements, sanitation has been key in keeping a clean barber shop.
While the shop was closed, I attended a sanitation refresher course. This course was presented by Barbicide Sanitation Products. Given the rules for Pennsylvania while in the Green phase, we will follow all of the CDC guidelines and barbering sanitation rules.
Now, when you come in the shop, along with all of the previous sanitation methods, be assured the chair will be properly wiped and sanitized between customers; customers will need to wear a mask, I will be wearing a mask and gloves; every customer will wear a drape that has been washed the previous night and not used by anyone else for the day. The number of clients will be limited to just those who have an appointment.
Given the additional expenses and expectation that we cannot process at full capacity, I have had to implement a slight price increase. My hope is this increase in price does not overly impact people; but given all the new expenses at the shop it cannot be prevented.
New Pricing Board
As the shop is going to be by appointment only, I am going to open the appointment scheduler to allow for some evening hours two or three days each week.
Finally, Pennsylvania recently announced Luzerne County will enter Green Phase on June 19th. I have opened the barber shop appointment scheduler to accept appointments starting on June 19th.
The Barber Awaits Your Arrival
I hope this has given you a small sense to what has been going on at Carey’s Avenue Barber Shop while we’ve been closed. I want to thank you all for your continued loyalty, friendship, and patronage. I hope to see you at the barber shop on or after June 19th.
CoVid19 is Changing the World
What to Expect Once the Barber Shop Opens Again
A few months ago, the barber shop was a busy place. Gentlemen would congregate in the shop, hang out to chat with other men, play games, drink coffee, and of course get haircuts, beard trims, and shaves.
Life in the Shop - PrePandemic
In January, the death of Mr. Peanut was big news in Wilkes-Barre. Planters aired a commercial depicting the demise of Mr. Peanut. A couple of television stations stopped by the barber shop to talk about Mr. Peanut, his life, and his purported death.
However, all the while we went on with our regular lives, something was brewing. The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (CoVid19) started making its way around the globe late last year. By December, it was prevalent in Asia and Europe. On January 20th, 2020, the first case of CoVId19 was reported in the United States; but here at the barber shop, we were concerned with just one thing. The death of Mr. Peanut. The Mr. Peanut story from the barber shop aired on WNEP (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) on January 22nd and on WFMZ (Allentown) on January 23rd.
Throughout February and into March, we all continued with our lives. All the while we heard more and more about CoVid19. The initial stories claimed it was like another flu. We heard “Don’t panic; but wash your hands.” We continued going out to eat; gather with family; the Mr. Peanut craze died down; sporting events continued; and people came in for haircuts and shaves. I even found time to act in a play.
By early March, it was clear that CoVid19 was not just an ordinary flu. The first cases of CoVid19 were reported in Pennsylvania on March 6th. Governor Wolf issued orders to shut down schools and parks effective March 13th and all non-life sustaining business had to close as of March 19th. This order included the barber shop. I posted signs; shut out the lights; and locked the door. Even now, it is not clear how long the barbershop will remain shut down.
Before I had much time to consider what was happening, a couple of friends and customers called to ask what they might do to help. They wanted to know if they could purchase some haircuts in advance. This gave me an idea. I created a program where customers could prepay for haircuts (services). I posted the program in social media, and many of you called to purchase loyalty cards. The well wishes I have received from so many people has truly lifted my spirits. The outpouring of support has truly been a blessing. As the pandemic has continued longer than expected, I temporarily halted Loyalty Program sales as we have well over fifty members. The program shall be open again once we have a better sense of the duration of the lock down.
I have also taken some time to give the barber shop a thorough cleaning. I started by emptying the shop of all equipment and I removed all the decorations and pictures from the wall.
Empty Shop
The back room took upon the appearance of an antique store with all the shop furniture stored in the back room. More on the back room in a bit.
After dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, scrubbing, and sanitizing, the effort to put everything back into the shop allowed me an opportunity to move many things around. Various furniture items were moved and many of the pictures hung in different locations. I also used this as an opportunity to add some new items to the shop.
Two new items in the shop are incredibly special. The first item was presented to me after a local church closed. St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church closed late last year. One of the members gave me an old hymn board. I have repurposed this to be the barber shop’s pricing board. The second item is just as special. My niece, Lauren, commissioned a map of the city of Wilkes-Barre. She had it printed poster size and sent it to me for the barber shop. When I received this item, I was completely surprised and touched that she would think of me in this way. To make it even more special, she used this as an opportunity to send some business to a business local to her in Florida. I will forever cherish these items.
As the pandemic wore on into a second month, it started to seem like there was no end in sight. Many of you may not know; but my wife was in Virginia providing much needed child care for our grand children. Our son and daughter in-law both have essential jobs; but they lost their day care due to the pandemic. My wife was the perfect choice to take care of the little ones. She also managed to spend a few days with our other granddaughter in southeast Pa. I also managed to spend two weeks in Virginia helping the family move.
Although it was wonderful spending time with family, it is difficult being away. There are bills to pay and even though the shop is closed, there’s still work that needs to be done.
It became clear while I was away that if the shop were to survive, I’d have to make more changes and find a way to cover the bills. Given that everything must be wiped down after anyone touches something, I decided that I can no longer offer games such as pool, air hockey, and foosball.
I have cleared out the back room. I now looks similar to how it did when the shop opened five years ago.
More to come …
In Part 2, you’ll learn about my daughter’s effort to help by selling Barber Shop T-Shirts; The new appointment scheduling page; sanitation procedures; and hopefully some insight when Pennsylvania plans to go Green.
September 23rd 2018 marks the third anniversary since I opened Carey's Avenue Barber Shop.
The day the shop opened was the culmination of a year and a half long journey to end one career and start a new one; but that is a story for another day. Join me now as we take a look back at some of the changes and things that remain the same at Carey’s Avenue Barber Shop.
On that first day open, I provided service to just six customers and received a number of well wishers. My very first customer was my landlord, Dr. John Miller.
Since that day I have been blessed to count many people as customers and friends. Below is just a small photo book of the many people who have come into the barber shop.
Business continues to grow at a sure and steady pace. On average I welcome a new customer almost every day. Repeat customers look around the shop and notice how things change over time.
Many things have changed in the shop. The back room is now a game room; there was a dress shop added to the back; but now that is gone; some items in the shop have been moved out; other items have been moved in. Below are some pictures of the shop through out the last three years.
Over the past three years, I’ve hosted a number of special activities. Wedding haircuts, a Lula Roe Dress party, Men’s Bible Study, International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and of course the various holiday movie marathons. (A Christmas Story and the Halloween Monster Movies). I also participated in a United Way fund raising event where I shaved two men at Mondelez International.
The shop collection of antiques and odd items continues to grow and change. To really appreciate it you must stop in. Look around. Everything has a story, just not necessarily all true.
The basic service remains the same since I opened three years ago. Haircuts, Shaves, Beard Trims, and Towel Services. I have added some niceties to the process. Loyalty Cards, First Haircut Certificates, Gift Certificates, and complimentary beverages.
The center of it all is of course my 100+ year old barber chair.
As another year begins, I am truly thankful for all the folks who come in day after day and week after week, trusting me to provide them with top notch service.
Throughout the years, barbershops have been more than just a place to get a haircut and a shave. They are also where men gather to discuss the news of the day; politics; or simply just to visit and catch up with old friends.
Read MoreHave you ever experienced a shave with a hot towel in the barbershop? If you said “Yes,” then you know what it’s all about and are hopefully looking forward to your next barbershop shave. If you said “No,” then keep reading for you do not know what you’re missing.
Read MoreMy brother, Jason, recently dropped an antique typewriter off at the barbershop. He wanted to give it to my daughter, Kathleen; but she already has an antique typewriter. I suggested he leave it at the shop
Read MoreWilkes-Barre was called the Diamond City. Because of the abundance of black diamonds coming from the ground created coal mining, manufacturing, and railroad jobs in the region. This industry flourished during the 19th and 20th centuries ending in the late 1950’s and 60’s.
Read MoreWe all receive and make change every day. The Barbershop is no different. Change is coming to the Barbershop this July.
Read MoreWhen I was considering a logo for the barbershop, I wanted to utilize the Carey Crest in some way. The crest design remains the same; but I updated to sable to the barbering colors of red, white, and blue. Within each rose is set a symbol of the tools of the trade, scissor & comb, clipper, and razor.
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Read MoreThe barber shop is considered a step back in time to an era that probably never existed. One might think walking into the shop that time stopped some time back in the 1920's or 30's; but with three clocks prominently displayed on the walls, time certainly has not stopped.
Read MoreDisney World has hidden Mickeys; The Barber Shop has Hidden Mr. Peanuts. Read more about Mr. Peanut and his importance to Wilkes-Barre as you hang around the barber shop...
Read MoreThe Agnes Flood of 1972 set a line in time throughout the Wyoming Valley. When I was a kid, my brothers and I searched for treasure among the trash and the mud of our part of Wilkes-Barre. Read more to find the connection between an old barrel lamp and 1972 through Flood Mud.
Read MorePhoebe Snow was a fictional advertising icon from the early 1900's. She road the Lackawanna Railroad because it burned clean anthracite coal. This kept her dress ever white. Read more about Phoebe Snow and her love for the Anthracite powered Lackawanna Railroad.
Read MoreSitting on a go-kart tire in the shop is an ever growing rubber band ball. Pictured here the ball rests in a a place of honor. Also shown is an older photo of the ball when it was not so grown up.
Read MoreThe coffee table is the resting place for more than just magazines, glasses, cups, and hats. It contains a number of items worth a second look. Open up this entry to read about this special piece of furniture and all it contains.
Read MoreFloyd's Barber Shop in Mayberry NC, was a major hang out for many characters in on the Andy Griffith Show. Read more about the corner in my barber shop dedicated to Floyd Lawson,
Read MoreThe Back Room has changed from an empty space to a game room and dress boutique. Follow along to see how things have changed over the past ten months.
Read MoreWelcome to Carey's Avenue Barber Shop. I am Daniel Carey, the barber of course.
The purpose of this blog is to inform and amuse you with things in, around,and going on in the barber shop.
In my shop I have multiple collectibles, antiques, and oddities. When customers come in, most will commonly ask about them, wondering why I have an air-boat propeller, a rubber band ball bigger than most people's heads, a hidden Dalek - for all of my Doctor Who fans, and so much more.
I plan to write every week about something, anything, that's in my shop, going on in the shop, and why I have the things I have in here. My shop is a history lesson of sorts, so come on down for a haircut or a hot towel shave and take a look around while you wait or after you're done. There's something in here for everyone to learn about and enjoy.
As I close each week, I'd like to give you something different. One other thing you may not know; but I am connected to about forty other Daniel Carey's on Facebook. We have club called The Daniel Carey Society. Every member differs in background and comes from all around the globe; but we all share one common thing, we are all named Daniel Carey.
