As always, the shop is a great place for men, women and children to find straightforward, quality haircuts and styling, but spreading the word in the early days was a bit of a challenge, Edwards remembered. He would often watch for folks leaving the nearby department store (a business that has since closed) and offer business cards for the new barber shop. His son-in-law, Tim Mears, who now manages the shop as well as offering barber services, worked at Al’s Food Valu in those days and would likewise hand out cards, encouraging people to try out the new barber.

All of their hard work paid off, and today Edwards cherishes the friendships that have evolved out of those humble beginnings. 31W Barber Shop still serves many of its original customers and has been privileged to follow some of them from their very first haircuts and on through adolescence and beyond. “I’ve barbered from Chicago to Kentucky to Southern California,” Edwards noted, “and this is the most customer friendly shop where I’ve worked. I love the people here.”

A variety of styles can be had at the shop including classics such as “flat tops” and “high and tight.” The barbers in the shop also offer a shave around the ears, something many in the industry have foregone.

Like the local memorabilia along the walls, 31W Barber Shop is a reminder of days gone by. “We’re just an old-fashioned barber shop,” Edwards stated. Shops like his, he knows, are a dying breed with so many children being brought up at beauty salons instead. “A lot of kids today don’t even know what a barber’s pole is,” he added. But for the shop’s loyal customers, there is nowhere else they would rather go.

In addition to the barbering skills of Edwards, Mears and Gary York, an assortment of sports cards and collectibles fills a corner of the shop. Edwards focuses on the collectibles portion of the business now that he is semi-retired and enjoys providing the opportunity for people to stop by, look at the cards and reminisce about the times and teams they represent. All of the cards and collectibles are available for purchase as a part of the shop’s “buy, sell, trade” business.

Step into 31W Barber Shop , located at 321 West Drive in The Gallery, and you are sure to see a cross section of White House from professionals to construction workers to retirees and more all present for a quality cut, a fair price and a piece of small town life.

31W Barber Shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and can be reached by phone at 672-8616.