83-year-old owner of Gebhart’s Grooming shares business advice – Ashland Source

Parallel to Ashland's Main Street is a less traveled one-way street, featuring the back entrance to popular spots like the Downtown Perk and Uniontown Brewing Company and approximately half a dozen other small, locally owned and operated gems.

Some like HoldFast Tattoo and Substance Church are relatively new to South Street, while others like Hair Connection and Linder's Sports Bar and Grill have long had a presence in Ashland. All are proud of their downtown locations.

In the coming weeks, Ashland Source will highlight many of these South Street businesses and discuss how revitalization efforts in downtown effect them.

ASHLAND -- Lifelong Ashland County resident WilliamGebhart doesn't make plans.

The 83-year-old owner ofGebhart's Family Grooming Centersimply shows up on-time and works hard for his customers.

It's what he's done since obtaining his barber license in 1957, and he intends to keep up the pattern until he can't get up and go to work anymore.

Gebhart says he became a barber because he knew other barbers who seemed happy with their careers. He worked along Second and Main Streets before opening his own barber shop in 1973, Gebhart's Family Grooming Centeron58 South St West in Ashland. He'll celebrate the business's 47th anniversary in April.

"I just get up every morning and go to work, and if I can't get up to go to work, then I won't be work anymore. That's all," Gebhart said.

His South Street location was a taxi garage before Gebhart moved in and renovated the building's interior. Four cars could fit into the space where he now cuts hair.

Nearly 50 years later, it looks similar. The most significant additions and changes have come from his customers in the form of gifts. One wall features a yard stick collection; many are from Westinghouse, F.E. Myers and other businesses in the region and aren't made anymore.

Other walls are adorned with plaques from Gebhart's involvement with the Lions Club, Masonic Lodge and other local organizations. And he's especially proud of the American flag that he displays.

His services haven't changed much over the years either.

"We don't get into a lot of the other stuff like coloring, mainly just cutting and shaving. Keep it simple," Gebhart said. "We don't create the trends the public creates the trends, and the standard hair cut for guys stays pretty well the same. Young people change to be different, but then they go back."

Even before downtown's revitalization and despite ever-evolving competition, he's always kept busy.

"I have just been serving the people. Since I started I've had regulars. A lot of them are gone now, but they book for the next one when they come in," he said.

Gebhart resides in Perrysville with his wife of 60 plus years. He has three children and more grandchildren and great-grandchildren than he can count.

The Grooming Center is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 8 to 1 p.m. most Saturdays. The shop is closed on the first Saturday of the month.

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83-year-old owner of Gebhart's Grooming shares business advice - Ashland Source