When it comes to getting a fresh haircut, the southside of Tallahassee has one more barbershop to choose from. Clippers barbershop, which already has a successful West Tennessee location, will be opening another barbershop on Monday, Dec. 10.
The new location, located at 1815 S. Adams St., will be right across from Florida A&M University in the newly built Baker’s Plaza. Also in the plaza will be a pharmacy, a clothing store and a fast-food restaurant.
According to Tarik Williams, manager of the West Tennessee location, it’s going to be a definite plus for the students who live on campus and travel to the Tennessee location to get haircuts.
“It’s going to be something different for that side of town,” said Williams.
“A lot of people have been asking for another shop because it’s always packed here [Tennessee location].
Williams, who has been working at Clippers for three years, credits the success of the shop to the fact that they offer clients things other shops don’t.
“We’re the only barbershop in Tallahassee that’s open on Sundays and Mondays,” said Williams.
Harris Jones, a barber at the West Tennessee location, agreed with Williams.
“We’re open everyday at late hours. We also have a big facility and we have more people working,” Jones said.
Outside of Clippers being more convenient for people who work late or who can’t make it to the barbershop on weekdays, Williams said the real reason for Clippers’ success is really quite simple:
“We give good haircuts,” said Williams. “That’s why people keep coming. You can ask anybody in the chair and they’ll tell you.”
Al Rivers, a loyal Clippers customer of two years, said “It’s quality service here and I like the way they present themselves.”
“The atmosphere in here is just cool,” said Brandon Ross who followed his high school barber over to Clippers.
“I always have a good time when I come here, everybody is just cool.”
However, if owner Rob Gayle has his way, there will be a few more Clippers barbershops popping up in Tallahassee.
“I’m trying to make this a franchise,” said Gayle who stressed that he was targeting more than Tallahassee’s college students.
“I like to provide a good thing for the locals too whereas, Rattler’s Edge is just for the students.”
Gayle continued, “I’m a corporation, I want them everywhere.”
Gayle, whose family owned Clippers’ barbershops in his hometown, brought his barbershop know-how to Tallahassee in April 2000 at the age of 20. Since it’s opening, Clippers has won many awards for its haircutting skills.
In last year’s first Ghetto Fabulous Live Awards, they won the Steve Harvey edge-up award.
They also were named the number one barbershop in Tallahassee, two years in a row by the FSView.
Despite the fact that there are already two existing barbershops within walking distance of the new Clippers location, Gayle isn’t worried about the competition. In fact, he doesn’t feel he has any competition.
“I don’t look at the competition, I’m my own competition.”
The new barbershop, which will feature both barbers and beauticians, will boost business for both locations said Williams.With the buzz surrounding the opening of the South Adams Clippers, Williams predicted people would come by just to see what all the talk is about. Due to Clippers’ reputation around Tallahassee, they have also cut the heads of rapper Lil Scrappy and Washington Redskins’ running-back Clinton Portis.
“It’s like the commercial says,” said Williams “We’re fading out the competition.”
Contact Amber Vaughan at famuanlifestyles@hotmail.com