A Family Tradition
The Barbershop: A place where people come to talk about the community, to find out about local sports and recent activity in the community. A place to maybe just bend an ear of the barber who listens, but always tends to forget after the customer leaves. A place of fun, laughter and sometimes politics. Reid’s Barbershop is no different from the old-fashioned shops you read about. Today our shop may have a modern style, but we still have the old-time flair, the straight razor neck shave with every cut or even a beard trim all the way to a straight razor shave.
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My great grandfather Jim Reid moved from Bradford, Ontario to Detroit, where he worked in the Hudson building as a barber in 1914. The reason for the move to the U.S. was hunting. Ontario’s laws would not permit hunting on a Sunday, but he ran his barbershop from Monday to Saturday. Sunday was his only time to hunt. These days of business are still in practice today.
In 1920 Jim moved to Grand Blanc, just outside one of the biggest corporate business districts of that time, Flint. He then bought a barbershop from Walt Ames and remodeled the shop with five chairs and many deer head mounts on the wall. The one item left behind from Walt’s shop was a stuffed bobcat that was later donated to Grand Blanc High School.
In 1920 Jim moved to Grand Blanc, just outside one of the biggest corporate business districts of that time, Flint. He then bought a barbershop from Walt Ames and remodeled the shop with five chairs and many deer head mounts on the wall. The one item left behind from Walt’s shop was a stuffed bobcat that was later donated to Grand Blanc High School.
In 1947 my grandfather Bill Reid left AC to pursue a career in barbering. After completing his schooling from Flint Institute of Barbering, he joined his father in the business. Bill took over ownership of the shop when Jim passed away. I’ve been told the shop had never seen this type of energy from a barber. Many customers have told stories of my grandfather cracking jokes and if the music was just right, performing a little dance in the middle of the store. I have a little of this in me.
The shop was the little house up on Saginaw. Many farmers would come and stay all day to talk, play pinochle, and maybe get a hair cut. In the early 60’s the shop consisted of five chairs occupied by himself and two of three sons, along with an apprentice. When a person chose to barber, they went to barber college for one year and then apprentice at a shop for two years. After the two years, the apprentice went back to take his test to become a master barber. Reid’s Barbershop’s apprentice was Charlie Crosno, who was brought in temporarily while Bill’s third son, my dad Kirk Reid, completed his apprenticeship. Since one shop can only have one apprentice at a time, Kirk had to find another shop for his apprenticeship. As Charlie became a barber while waiting for Kirk, my grandfather passed away in 1966 at 51. So the joke in the shop is that Charlie was never hired full time. Charlie has now retired from Reid’s Barbershop after 57 great years of working in our shop. Unfortunately, all other to-be-retirees passed away before they were able to retire.
In its original location, a strip mall was being built behind the shop. The owner of the mall asked my grandfather numerous times to move inside the mall. He was not biting since he owned the shop he was in. As time passed and the mall was completed, tactics were made to try and bring my grandfather back. They even planted an evergreen next to the shop to draw attention to the shop. My grandfather picked up shop and moved back into the Hamady Mall, still with five chairs, but now an extra area for separate shampoos.
Bill then left his legacy in the mall with five chairs, three Reid boys and Charlie. His memory lived on as customers today still tell me of those great stories. With the passing of my grandfather, my grandmother took over ownership. My two uncles Gary, the oldest of the three boys, Jim and the baby of the family Kirk along with Charlie were the barbers of the shop. Gary managed the shop for my grandmother. These men ran the shop Monday to Saturday with days off for hunting season. During hunting season, the shop would shut down for a week. A deer mount was placed in a chair to help customers understand why the shop was closed.
In 1974 Jim left the shop and moved into another career. Gary passed away in 1979 leaving Charlie and Kirk the shop. Transitioning into the times of perms and long hair, Reid’s welcomed their first female barber Sandy Barber. The shop evolved into the family-oriented shop we are today. My dad managed the shop into the next move we had. Hamady’s extended the mall closer to the road, moving us to where Rite Aid stands today. While in this location my grandmother retired, and Kirk bought the business from her.
Being a barber inside a community as small as Grand Blanc, we give back as best as we can. My dad raised kids inside the community and he truly believed in helping others here. He often donated to the school and volunteered at the Buick Open. As hole captain at the Buick Open he asked everyone to come into the shop to get their uniform. My father helped Goodrich High School raise money for the tsunami funds by shaving the heads of the teachers if they had reached their goals. These are just small things that define who my dad was to this community. It’s important to us that we’re able to continue donating to schools, cancer research, autism, and special Olympics. These are just small things we can do to give back to the community that has been great to us.
Being a barber inside a community as small as Grand Blanc, we give back as best as we can. My dad raised kids inside the community and he truly believed in helping others here. He often donated to the school and volunteered at the Buick Open. As hole captain at the Buick Open he asked everyone to come into the shop to get their uniform. My father helped Goodrich High School raise money for the tsunami funds by shaving the heads of the teachers if they had reached their goals. These are just small things that define who my dad was to this community. It’s important to us that we’re able to continue donating to schools, cancer research, autism, and special Olympics. These are just small things we can do to give back to the community that has been great to us.
Fast forward to today: we have 8 barbers, 4 men and 4 women. Ken Medford, our second shoe shine boy (Kirk was the first), attended barber school, owned his own shop and now has worked with us for over 12 years. Our barbers are diverse in age and personality, and we are lucky to have the community embrace us. We’ve seen generations come to our shop. Charlie worked with us for 57 years, he has been able to cut one boy’s hair at 8 years old, as well as that boy’s own grandson’s hair. My father worked at Reid’s for 47 years but has since passed away.
A little about me: I was not looking to become a barber. I went to MSU right out of high school and then onto construction. With the building community fading away I made a choice… I am the fourth generation Reid to be a barber at Reid’s. I was lucky to work for my dad for 5 years. I, just as my father, manage the shop for my mother who now owns the shop. I am picking up where the late Reid’s left off… The fun, the dance, and from that the laughter. I strive to keep the old barbering traditions as if it were the day my great grandfather established in 1920. I volunteer, such as free cuts to veterans at Veteran’s Day events. We are now a completely family-friendly barbershop. This was my dad’s goal to achieve and mine to carry on. We do every diverse haircut out there. I am proud to say that although we keep old traditions, we are keen to today’s technology world. We also pride ourselves in being a business who cares for our special needs community. We service the hair of women, men, and kids of all heritage and hair texture with respect, fun, and care.
For almost 100 years, my family has been a part of this community offering the local talk, being the center hub of Grand Blanc, volunteering, and just being an ear. This community has been great to us, and I am proud to have seen what this area has become. I hope I will see it for years to come. As long I am around, Reid’s Barbershop will be a part of this community. I do have a son, so maybe for years after me also.
Thank you… Thank you to the community and the generations we have been so lucky to serve.
Chad Reid
Manager of Reid’s Barbershop 2018
Thank you… Thank you to the community and the generations we have been so lucky to serve.
Chad Reid
Manager of Reid’s Barbershop 2018