Buzz Barbershop opens in Geneva

GENEVA – Dave Hurrle sat in the first chair at the Buzz Barbershop at 107 W. State St., Geneva while owner Teri Debates draped him in a cape and began cutting his hair.

Debates has been cutting Hurrle's hair for about three years, from when the barbershop was on Main Street in St. Charles before moving to Geneva in October.

“I followed her here,” Hurrle said.

Debates said after seven years in St. Charles, she decided to move her business to the town where she lives.

“I looked to buy a building and was able to purchase in the town where I live,” Debates said. "Geneva is more pedestrian friendly."

She has old customers like Hurrle follow her to Geneva, as well as new customers and walk-ins. Most of her business is by appointment.

Geneva Township property records show an LLC that Debates created paid $190,000 for the two-story building in June.

Debates said she spent more than four months getting it ready for customers, finally opening in the fall.

An interesting thing about the building is that it had been built in 1850 as a bank, but in 1895, the street-level portion had been jacked up to become the second floor, and a new first floor was added.

Debates wasn’t always a barber. For 30 years, Debates worked in architectural design and land planning. She said she worked with several different architects over the years, and also taught at community colleges.

But once the industry became largely computerized, she looked for something else – and found barbering.

If you go to get your hair cut at the Buzz Barbershop, however, be prepared to pay cash or by check – none of this debit or credit card stuff.

“I’m old school,” Debates said. “I’m very old school.”

More information is available by calling 630-584-2650 or via her Facebook page.