Barber since Reagan administration is retiring

Stan Chenoweth has been the barber at the Maple Leaf Barber Shop (7282 Manchester Road) since Ronald Reagan was elected President, or maybe it was the second term, he said Wednesday afternoon. He’s is finally retiring.

Everyone has told him it’s about time, he said. He’s 81. The sign on the door advertises a barber shop for sale — find it on Craigslist. It states the shop will close Dec. 19, but Chenoweth said it might be another week.

See also: Maplewood retail space available

The Craigslist post: “Start your own barber shop business in this classic shop! All you need is your barber’s license and $2,000 cash. This shop is on a busy stretch of Manchester with walk by traffic. Also includes vintage cash register and Coke machine. The cash register and Coke machine can be negotiated.”

According to Chenoweth the barber chair has already been sold to a buyer from Wichita, Kansas. He said the owner of Empire Supply owns the space.

Chenoweth was cutting James Summers’ hair Wednesday afternoon, which he’s been doing for about 20 years, Summers estimated.

They chatted about the police chief, what’s moving into the building next to the pharmacy, a pastor’s son, a grandson, the old Chevy dealership, Goldes Department Store, the weather, where all that traffic is going…

“Just because you’re retiring don’t give me a bum haircut,” Summers joked.

“I don’t give bum cuts. I give good ones — I give great ones, that’s all I give.” Chenoweth said.

Chenoweth lives in St. Charles and said he’ll probably find a place to cut hair a couple days a week out there. Summers said he’ll have to find a new barber, or maybe even a “beauty salon”.