Monday, August 30, 2010
Tom Amyx Barber Shop, 842 1/2 Massachusetts St., provides haircuts to the community of Lawrence. Tom Amyx Barber Shop is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. Weekend hours vary.
The seats of Amyx Barber Shop have held University greats like Phog Allen, Roy Williams, football coaches and track stars, such as Jim Ryun. They’ve all walked in the door with one intention: to get what’s said to be the best haircut in town.
Mayor Mike Amyx has been cutting hair at the shop since 1975. Amyx, his father and his grandfather have served the Lawrence community since 1908. But Amyx said before the shop was filled with KU students looking for a trim, farmers would ride into town to get their hair cut by Amyx’s grandfather, Cecil Amyx. Back then, farmers would bargain for the price of their haircut with anything they were able to trade, including chickens, eggs, beef or cream.
“The financial economic times were a lot like they are today,” Amyx said. “My dad would work from morning to night and not collect any money, but there was a lot of bartering going on.”
The atmosphere of the shop is what draws its customers. The walls are covered with pictures of the KU campus, old teams and unknown players. The walls in Amyx Barber Shop, 842 1/2 Massachusetts St., are almost alive — they speak to each customer of the tradition of Lawrence and the University.
Pictures of Roy Williams,Phog Allen and young Lawrence High football teams posing at the peak of their youth drape the walls. One cannot help but feel and see the history walking into Amyx’s shop. The history in Amyx’s shop is evident: in the center of the shop is an old fashioned barber’s chair, with the original scissors and tools that date to the early 1900s.
The hairstyles may have changed since the shop opened, but not much else is different for the barbershop, Amyx said.
Jeri Bryant, who’s been a barber at Amyx for 20 years, said he’s seen it all.
“You get to see little kids turn into young adults,” Bryant said. “You really get to know people personally over time. It’s really neat.”
The shop has eight barbers, and most of them have been there for several years. Most customers who get their hair cut at Amyx feel welcome from the day they walk in.
“I have been getting my hair cut here for four and a half years now,” said Sean Mulhern, a senior from San Francisco. “Being from California, you don’t see too many barber shops so tied to its community like Amyx Barber Shop. The mayor of the town is cutting my hair; you just don’t see that where I’m from. I have never even seen San Franciso’s mayor up close.”
Amyx has had the pleasure of working alongside his father, something he acknowledges not many people get to do. He’s also enjoyed watching young boys grow into men while being a part of the biggest moments in their lives.
“To be able to be a part of their lives is a pretty big deal,” Amyx said. “I have given kids their first haircut, prom haircut and even the haircut before they get married.”
After cutting hair for 35 years, Amyx said he couldn’t be happier. The booster stool his father sat on as a kid to get his hair cut is the same one Amyx sits on and is still using today. The cash register used by his grandfather in 1908 is the only one the shop has ever needed and ever used. Now, Amyx cuts the hair of men his age who received their first haircut from his father. It’s clear that Amyx knows that his experience is both unique and special.
“I’ve been a part of a lot of good relationships.” Amyx said. “It’s been a pretty good deal and pretty good life.”
— Edited by Roshni Oommen
The hunt for hairdressers
Barber shop offers more than just haircuts
African-American barber shop creates a community experience for customers.
Local barber wins businessman award
A love of haircutting throughout life and key events shaped barbershop owner’s ...
Basketball’s roots up for auction
Sotheby’s estimates Naismith’s first draft of the game’s rules to be worth ...
Rob Chestnut named Lawrence mayor
Mike Amyx becomes vice mayor, and both pledged to continue relationship with ...
Mayor delivers State of the City Address
Before inducting Lawrence's new mayor, vice mayor and the rest of the ...
Jeweler turns simple metals into treasures
Lance Williams wanted to surprise his wife, Amber, with a one-of-a-kind necklace ...
Chalmers returns to Lawrence to open hospital ...
Mario's Closet will provide services to cancer patients.
City commissioners select new mayor
Robert Chestnut will return to his former role on the City Commission.
Lawrence's landlord: a developer's story
Doug Compton, owner of First Management, has helped guide Lawrence's development for ...
New mayor wants more KU graduates to ...
Mayor Robert Chestnut wants to create more jobs so graduates have a ...
Second cupcake bakery opens shop in Lawrence
The national cupcake trend rages on as a second bakery opens on ...
Lawrence man builds wacky bikes
Eric Farnsworth has built quite a variety of bicycles, from a lawnmower ...
Leaving a lasting legacy
As Hemenway prepares to retire, he and others look back at how ...
Highberger chosen to be city’s mayor
Widower librarian shares wife's KU legacy
Digging Wall Drug
Wall, South Dakota will be my home for the next three days, ...
Keeping up appearances
Fancy cremes and badger brushes—it’s not always easy preservin’ your sexy.
Downtown meters will allow quick shopping
City commissioners voted 4-1 to approve 15-minute meters in each block of ...
Locks for Love
Donating hair to cancer victims can be a rewarding experience.
CITIZEN DOLPH: A rare look at the ...
You may not recognize his name, but Dolph Simons Jr., chairman of ...
Ordinance has unclear effects on downtown
Preservation or progression
Explore the perspectives of the Wetlands saga, from cultural identity to ecological ...
Wedding industry prospers in hard times
In economic downturn, local businesses catering to brides, grooms benefit from rising ...
Editorial: Downtown businesses need student support
Local businesses deserve loyalty during the economic hard times.
A strong foundation: Campus architect builds legacy
After a 63-year career, Warren Corman, University Architect, will retire on Thursday.
Students, teams react to fights
Chancellor chastises teams; basketball and football players unite to apologize; and students ...
New mayor proposes sales tax increase
In her first public address after becoming the new mayor, Sue Hack ...
Students propose late-night downtown hot dog stand
Two students ask the city for a permit to open up a ...
Good afternoon, class
Harry Schaffer, professor of economics, has been teaching at the University since ...
Greensburg natives cope with disaster
After news of the devastating tornado reached them, students from Greensburg made ...
Tanning salon stands the heat
A Kansas Union tanning salon remains open despite warnings from doctors.
Amyx suggests jail time to curb violence
Mayor wants there to be a ban on guns not just in ...
The Buc starts here
After troubled past, former Jayhawk Talib is ready to live his dream ...
Two new businesses open this summer
Australian captures city's beauty
As someone who hasn't grown up anywhere near Lawrence and doesn't take ...
Costume shops offer a variety of Halloween ...
Lawrence costume shops allow students to choose from an assortment of outfits ...
Salina native finds perfect fit
Tennis star stands out as dreams come alive on court.
Building Treehouse
A local store owner's experience running a custom drum company.
No dirty laundry for Reed siblings
Sophomore Lacie Reed is the men’s basketball team’s student manager, while her ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Lawrence mayor makes the cut
No picture of Mike Amyx?
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID