Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 8, 1994 TAG: 9405110006
SECTION: DISCOVER NRV PAGE: 6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KRISTEN KAMMERER CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Based on the answers given in our Discover survey, choosing which barbershop or beauty salon to use is an important issue for our readers in the New River Valley.
People are looking for fast, fairly priced and friendly service. But many people in search of the perfect haircut have found it in different places.
For that reason, there was no clear-cut winner. However, two businesses were mentioned more than once and deserve recognition.
According to our readers, Modern Barbershop in Blacksburg not only charges the right price - haircuts cost $5 - but, as Kelly Page Clark of Christiansburg said, "[It] offers traditional barbershop atmosphere."
Hassell Price opened Modern Barbershop in 1929. In 1962, the current owner, Ribble Morris Linkous, took the reins - or shears, as it were.
Linkous runs his shop on a first-come, first-served basis. You couldn't make an appointment even if you wanted to, because the shop doesn't have a phone.
"They would worry me to death," Linkous said.
The procedure for a haircut at Modern Barbershop is as follows: You walk in and immediately join the other customers seated in a row of chairs against the wall.
While waiting, you can pick up and read one of the many magazines scattered on the floor. Or you can sit back and enjoy the country music provided by an old Panasonic box radio, though it is sometimes hard to hear over the buzz of electric clippers.
When someone hollers, "Next!" you're up.
The average haircut takes about 20 minutes; nearly everyone is pleased with the results.
The large number of regular customers, many of whom Linkous knows by name, is a testament to the shop's quality.
One such customer is Gary Jackson of Blacksburg, who said, "Ribble Linkous has cut my hair since I was a cadet in 1974."
Modern Barbershop has six haircutters, including Linkous' son, Darryl, and daughter, Doris Alangdon. Together they claim to have trimmed as many as 1,000 heads a week, though the average is closer to 500.
Linkous isn't sure why his shop is so popular with the townspeople and students.
"I guess they just like me," he said. Then he added that he likes them, too.
On the other end of the spectrum is Images by B in Radford, a full-service beauty salon. The owner, Brenda O'Reilly, opened the salon four years ago after having taught cosmetology for eight years.
Leslie Black of Radford, among other readers, called Images by B "very professional."
Images by B's decor is 100 percent chic. Spacious, pristine white cubicles with padded black chairs await the customers. The walls are covered with photographs, paintings and mirrors. Puffy plum-colored valances rest above the windows.
A computer sits behind the front desk. And small, sphinx-like ornaments decorate the reclining shampoo chairs.
But don't let the decor fool you. The employees aren't at all stuffy. As one stylist, Tammy Harris, said, "The reason people like us is because we're not snobby. We're very friendly and down to earth."
O'Reilly thinks people like Images by B because it "provides a lot of value for the money." For example, it offers different discounts each month on products and services, giveaways and other chances to save through membership in the Birthday Club and Gold Card programs.
And if that isn't enough, Thelma W. Shupe of Dublin said Images by B is her "favorite spot to pick up local news and gossip."
Other noteworthy entries from our readers:
Friendly service - OK Barbershop in Pulaski. Dean Shufflebarger of Pulaski said, "[You can] walk in with a long face, but you go out laughing."
Least expensive - Bob Mullins of Christiansburg said his wife cuts his hair in their kitchen.
Most resourceful - Nancy Dowdy of Blacksburg cuts her own hair.
Most patient - Pat's Hair Design in Christiansburg. An anonymous reader said the stylists at Pat's "do a good job cutting [her] naturally curly hair, and they treat my granddaughter real special."
by CNB