TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — With the economic uncertainties from the coronavirus, we here at ABC 27 are shining a light on businesses that are doing their part to help out the community while keeping their business open.
A community barbershop with deep roots says, "We're Open, Tallahassee,"offering a safe cut for all ages.
COVID-19 closed Trends Barbershop for a few months and they lost their FAMU student clients, who returned home after COVID-19 closures.
Since re-opening, they've made changes to ensure customer safety, including requiring masks for barbers and customers.
"We're open, we're working at 50 percent capacity, we're also working by appointment only, so that's different," said Sean Crowe, the owner of Trends Barbershop. "There's no walk-ins, and no crowd in the barbershop like we're used to, but we're happy to be open and we're glad that we got the opportunity to be doing what we do."
The barbershop has been styling the Bond community for decades.
"The building has been here since 1938, and it's been a barbershop for over 30 years," Crowe said.
As Trends Barbershop's newest owner, Crowe remodeled and re-opened the iconic location in October.
"When I moved here about 20 years ago, Trends was my home barbershop, and when it closed down, I was pretty depressed about that," said Crowe. "But I had the opportunity to buy the building, open it back up and remodel it, and I chose to do that."
A few months later, COVID-19 shaved their dreams and profits.
Since re-opening, they've changed their business model to ensure customer safety.
"It's just really been a difficult time, but at the same time, we know that we are indebted to the Bond community and we want to make sure we are still there for them, as well as the college students," said Tommy Moore, the manager of Trends Barbershop.
Crowe and Moore, say the hardest part of the whole pandemic is not having a waiting room anymore.
"In the black community, the barbershop is a place where people come to commune," Crowe said. "They don't just come to get a haircut. They come to talk about politics and sports, and we miss that."
Still, they're making the best of it.
"Being open is better than being closed," said Crowe, "and we're very happy to be open."
If you're a business supporting our community, we want to hear from you.
ABC 27 has made it easy to submit your own business.
This is not just Tallahassee. South Georgia small businesses, we want to hear from you too!
Click on the We're Open, Tallahassee tab at the top of the ABC 27 website. Then, tell us your story by filling out the section to the right.
It's our way of letting people know you are open for business, and how they can support you.
