David Hardin Jr. cuts weighty barbershop hours

Barber in Detroit’s West Village goes the additional mile for his neighborhood

Wayne Robust is the definition of a hardworking Detroiter. On a typical day, it’s not unusual for Robust to work at not one, however two Detroit eating places — Townhouse and Seva. Nevertheless, after studying in regards to the dying of an uncle in November, Robust instantly had extra added to his plate, discovering himself in determined want of a haircut for his uncle’s funeral providers. The one means he might squeeze a haircut into his work schedule was throughout a slim window of time between the late morning and early afternoon hours on a Monday, a day most Detroit barbershops are closed.

Robust would actually discover a solution to a prayer proper off the nook of Van Dyke and Kercheval. There, a two-story, brick storefront homes Heavy Weight Cuts, 8008 Kercheval, a barbershop in Detroit’s West Village neighborhood operated by David Hardin Jr.

“Dave is a blessing to the neighborhood,” the 50-year-old Robust mentioned as he sat in Hardin’s barber’s chair at 10:28 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13 — the day earlier than his uncle’s funeral. “For individuals who don’t have transportation, Dave is within the neighborhood. And if you get right here, it’s clear and secure. Dave is an efficient host, too; he’s educated and you may come right here and get some stuff off your chest. I didn’t know what I used to be going to do if he wasn’t open, so I admire Dave for being right here.”

The enterprise card that Robust obtained after he stepped out of Hardin’s chair with a neat Mohawk lower summed up Hardin’s availability to your entire neighborhood in 4 brief strains: In clear black kind, the cardboard notes that Hardin’s store is open seven days every week, together with holidays.

“Through the holidays, somebody may say to a member of the family or good friend, ‘I’m going to get my hair lower.’ Then the opposite individual will say: ‘Oh yeah, I’ll meet you up there and I’ll carry the youngsters.’ After which they meet up right here and sit, and chop it up,” defined Hardin, who’s open from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. Mondays by Thursdays; 10 a.m. to eight p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; and from midday till 4 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. “However truthfully, for me, it’s no totally different. I deal with the vacations like a daily day. So, it’s no totally different till the individuals are available and begin speaking in regards to the holidays after which it turns into sort of festive.

“The shoppers assist to drag me again into the spirit of the vacations.”

Simply as Hardin depends on his prospects to get him into the vacation spirit, the 1992 honors graduate of Finney Excessive College takes pleasure in offering his prospects with an “inviting and funky” house, the place they’ll really feel snug bringing “mothers, grandma, granddad” and extra for fellowship — with out profanity — to go together with the knowledgeable barber expertise that Harden has been perfecting for the reason that age of 12.

“This ain’t the standard barbershop as you possibly can inform, and I attempt to be that means; I invite you into my world,” defined Hardin, who has been identified to make his 23-year-old store accessible for workshops that empower and enrich residents of the neighborhood that borders Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood. “My factor within the barbershop is that we’re right here to do what we are able to to assist others. When you have info and data, what good does it do to maintain it to your self? What good is having data if you happen to can’t share it? What good is having riches if you happen to can’t share them?

“That’s how I really feel.”