Longtime family-owned Barber’s Chair in New Lenox stays alive through pandemic

The Barber’s Chair in New Lenox has been family-owned for 23 years, offering boys and men haircuts at the same location.

Carol Spencer opened the Barber’s Chair, located at 332 W. Maple Street, with her two daughters. Her granddaughters work in the shop, as well.

Over the years, they have seen a lot of different faces in New Lenox.

“I think we cut everyone in town,” Spencer said. “We’ve cut the police chief, firemen and policemen. We were hoping that everyone would come back because we were closed for two-and-half months. (Customers) had to do home cuts because other shops were closed too. So we were really glad when they did come back.”

There was no preparing to be shut down for two-and-a-half months when the pandemic began, but Spencer and her employees have emerged from it.

Through it all, Spencer put all of her employees first.

“I was worried about my employees and gave each of them $200 and told them ‘it’s not a lot, but it’s something for gas and groceries,’” Spencer said. “I just wanted them to put a few groceries on their table.”

One employee mentioned how grateful she was for the check, because she had friends that were not as fortunate.

Spencer’s wish came true as the shop was “slammed” as soon as it reopened. It slowed down after, but has recently been back to normal.

“We’ve managed to pull through and survive and I’m just glad we are surviving,” Spencer said. “We’ve been really fortunate, I really do feel that we’ve been fortunate. We cut people for so long that when you close, they’re frantic. They’re calling and asking when we’re going to open again.”

While the shop is family-owned by blood, Spencer created an atmosphere that all the employees feel part of the family in and out of the shop. All 15 employees — between New Lenox and the Morris location — have shop picnics and other get-togethers.

“Your employees are what makes your shop run,” Spencer said. “That and the customers that come in.”

Even though the world is still in the middle of the pandemic and the future is uncertain, Spencer and the rest of the employees are taking things day by day.

The shop has also been lucky that no employees have been sick and the shop has taken different safety measures to be able to conduct business.

The shop has tarps hanging between the chairs to separate customers.

“Everything is working for us so far,” Spencer said.

Although Spencer is “semi-retired” as she calls it, the shop is remaining in good hands as her family continues to handle things when she’s not around.