Stacie’s Barber Shop At Granite Square

Imagine walking into the barbershop to hear a loud, shrill voice:
«Why’s it such a SHITHOLE down there [Mexico]? The rich people only have money cuz they run drugs, right? You make sure you don’t come across any ILLEGALS, right? I hope they have big signs like near our prisons here next to the border — don’t pick up hitch-​hikers or anyone looking SUSPICIOUS.»
And so on went the unsubtle racist undertones of ‘Stacie’s’ chat with the guy whose hair she was cutting, but clearly speaking to the rest of the room of waiting folks. There were other topics and conversations as I waited that mirrored that one. Totally bizarre. Stacie is boisterous, opinionated, and a few shades the wrong side of xenophobic.
I was lucky to get Wendy and thought I would not to have to deal with hateful dynamics. But, unfortunately, our conversation was peppered with more uncomfortable oddities. «Where are you from?» was asked of me three times (I’ve lived my entire life in Manchester, but my slightly darker complexion set off warning bells? Who knows with these types of people). Eyes were rolled at my haircut request. She told me a few times how scared she was of the East Side of Manchester (don’t laugh…), and asked «Are there any nice parts over there?» Towards the end of the cut, I was informed by both of these women that they cut the hair of many «undercover cops,» who tell them all the «gay secrets» around the area — that many of the undercover police officers warn them to stay away from Stark Park, the mall bathrooms, rest stops, etc. They shuddered and repeatedly warned me to stay away. I didn’t have the energy, or even care enough, to ask what these undercover cops were trying to bust — was being gay illegal? These two were so far GONE on their ignorant perspectives, it wasn’t even a conversation worth having.
I’m trying to keep this one-​star review rational. The positives of the place are that, if you are of the right TYPE of person, they very much remember your name, get to know you, etc. I hope you don’t mind dogs either, there’s a 100+ pound dog guarding the entrance. Its a barbershop and doesn’t do women’s cuts — they do have a few bucks off for seniors and kids.
I mention these horrible, hateful experiences not against these two personally (in this review context), but the environment and relationship with a barbershop is a significant element! For me, the wait was long (40 minutes, I should have left given all I was hearing) and those conversations create an uncomfortable and confrontational environment to have your hair cut. Its probably a great place to come if you’re not a person of color, and/​or if you can easily deal with ignorance and are supportive of regressing our country’s systems of rights to backtrack on equality, liberty, justice. You have to put up with either of these women spewing a fair share of fundamentalist tea-​party xenophobic nonsense — so I’m not sure a men’s haircut for $ 13 is worth all that.
In fact, we know it’s not because… drumroll… the haircut was not good (the cut on its own I would give 3-​stars). Stay away.

Wendy just cut my hair for the first time and I’m impressed. Usually lower price shops will rush the haircut, but not here. I got a great cut, my neck shaved and beard trimmed too.