8 • June 2020
BUSINESS NEWS
Coast River Business Journal
Barber opens after 3-month covid-19 delay
No walk-ins, limited bookings and new sanitary measures help limit exposure of virus
Kut & Shave Barbers
James Kincheloe, owner
1133 Commercial St., Astoria
503-741-3142
Story and Photos by Luke Whittaker
Coast River Business Journal
lwhittaker@crbizjournal.com
ASTORIA — It’s been nearly three full months of silence, but a
barbershop on Commercial Street is finally buzzing.
“It feels good to be open,” said Kut & Shave Barbers owner James
Kincheloe in between haircut appointments Friday, May 29. “I got shut
down right when I was about to open the next day.”
On March 23, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s “Stay Home, Save Lives,”
order called for the immediate closure of nonessential businesses to help
slow the spread of the covid-19 virus. Kincheloe’s barbershop was among
the mass of non-essential businesses that closed in the wake, just days
from an official grand opening.
Special sanitation measures
Kincheloe, a third-generation barber with more than 20 years in
the business, had longed to open his own barbershop after working for
other shops in the area. His first official day of business came in May,
approximately three months after he originally planned to open.
“I originally planned on opening March 25,” he said. “Right now
they’re making us do appointment only.”
The appointment-only stipulation has meant no more walk-ins and
limiting bookings to about 10 per day, or about one per hour, Kincheloe
said.
“We don’t have the regular flow that we would normally have since it’s
by appointment only,” he said. “It sucks. But other than that we’re steady.
We’re full. Some of them are a half hour but most of them take an hour
because we’re doing extra sanitation in between.”
The barbershop implemented new sanitary measures and stopped some
services to help limit exposure to the covid-19 virus.
“We typically do haircuts and shaves but right now we’re not doing
any shaves because we’re limiting ourselves on some contact. We’ll still do
a beard trim but we’re waiting to do things on a regular basis,” Kincheloe
said.
The shop also relocated the front barber station toward the center of the
shop to make room for a hand-washing sink for customers.
“They can come in wash their hands and fill out a form — that way
their hands are already clean,” Kincheloe said. “It’s just an extra little
precaution.”
Standard sanitation procedures were also elevated.
“We have to change our tape and smock for every person. We disinfect
our chair and cabinet before anyone else comes in,” Kincheloe said. “It’s
the tapes that drive us nuts. And I have laundry that I have to do every day.”
“It feels good to be open,” said Kut & Shave Barbers owner James Kincheloe in between haircut appointments Friday, May
29 in Astoria. On March 23, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s ‘Stay Home, Save Lives,’ order called for the immediate closure of non-
essential businesses to help slow the spread of the covid-19 virus. Kincheloe’s barbershop was among the mass of non-essential
businesses that closed in the wake, just days from an official grand opening.
More diversions planned
The barbershop has a pool table in the back and will eventually
have vending machines, small comforts that contribute to the barbershop
experience, but neither of which are currently permitted. The change in
routine has been the biggest challenge, Kincheloe said.
“Not having people be able to sit and wait, chitchat or have a beer,
just having to do it by appointment. You get used to doing it a certain
way,” he said.
Jack Powell performs a haircut on a customer. The barbers
have been averaging about 10 haircuts a day each.
The barbershop has a pool table in the back and will eventually
have vending machines, small comforts that contribute to the
barbershop experience.