Driving east on College Street from West Street, I observed the Route 66 mural on the side of the Route 66 Barber Shop located at 2417 College Street. I had seen this little building many times, with the classic barber pole outside the door, but considered it a monument to times past. I wanted to know more about this Route 66 business, so on a Friday afternoon I dropped in for a visit.
I entered the barber shop and met the owner, Grant Kendall. Mr. Kendall had a customer in the chair and two were waiting for their turn. It is difficult to judge the number of customers in the business as parking is limited to a few curbside spaces in front of the door.
I sat down in an available chair and immediately felt I stepped back in time. The décor is that of a 1940’s barber shop, with the barber chairs, cabinetry, fixtures, and in the corner a Warm Morning gas stove.
Even the view looking out the window is that of the Melinda Court, a historic Route 66 motor court. Photographs on the wall of the early days of the business confirm that the barber shop has changed very little from the 1940’s.
When I entered the business, I felt that I had interrupted the conversation, but it was soon back with talk of sports and cars, showing that this is not just a barber shop, but a place for conversation. During my time there, a steady flow of customers came and went. All were regular customers which Mr. Kendall knew by name. One customer wanted a haircut and a shave for his special Friday night. The shave was an age-old process of foam, hot towels, and a straight-blade razor not seen in most modern barber shops.
Between customers, I talked with Mr. Kendall and inquired about the history of the Route 66 Barber Shop. He explained that the shop opened in 1948 by Milfred Mullins and has been in continuous operation at this location since that time. Mr. Kendall does not know of another barber shop on Route 66 that has been open longer at the same location. Don Mullins, Milfred Mullins’ son, joined his father as a barber in the business and took over after his father’s retirement. In 2011 Don Mullins was considering his retirement and the future of the business. Mr. Kendall’s father, a barber in Kimberling City, learned that the barber shop on Route 66 was available and told his son about the opportunity.
Mr. Kendall rented the barber shop sight unseen and moved from the St. Louis area, where he was already working as a barber. He continued to rent the barber shop until 2014, when he purchased the shop and three houses behind the business. Mr. Kendall described his move to the Route 66 corridor as a leap of faith and is happy that he made the move. He spoke proudly of being a part of the preservation of the history of Route 66 and continuing the legacy of the barber shop started by Milfred Mullins in 1948.
It’s great to see the support of this historical business by the people of the west side. This trend can continue for the west side if we all support this and other businesses.
Joe Roberds is president of the Westside Betterment Neighborhood Association.