CRESTLINE – It isn’t “shear” luck that Josh Crosswhite is a barber.
Crosswhite, 32, grew up hanging around his grandfather’s barber shop, Ed’s Barber Shop on North Seltzer St. Now, he’s the owner of the longtime business, which is expanding to a larger location at 101 W. Bucyrus St. on Sept. 1.
Either way, he’s just happy cutting hair.
“Since high school, you know, I’d hang out at the barber shop with my grandpa and so it was something I knew I could do and do forever and I enjoy it,” Crosswhite said. “It’s really fun to me. It’s not like a job.”
The barber shop – a mainstay in Crawford County since 1965 – was started by and named for Crosswhite’s grandfather, Ed Naufzinger. The new Bucyrus Street location will be the fourth site for Ed’s over the years, Crosswhite said.
“People will definitely notice the building with the huge mural on the side,” Crosswhite said of the 1,900-square-foot space. “We really paid attention to all the small details that I’ve learned over the year.
We’ve really taken that into consideration.”
The interior of the salon will feature an eclectic, modern style with a black ceiling and gray floor and walls, Crosswhite said. The non-traditional stations will be equipped with toolboxes on wheels to hold scissors, shavers, and other grooming implements.
Maggie Whitt of Galion is the other barber on staff at Ed’s. She will soon be joined by Crosswhite’s younger brother, 22-year-old Colton Powell, who will graduate from barber school in September.
Crosswhite said his grandfather’s first customer back in 1965 was Richard Swain of Crestline, who also happened to be his first client when he joined the business in 2009. Ironically, that tradition will continue when Swain becomes Colton’s first customer, too.
Crosswhite said popular haircuts for men and boys nowadays are skin fades with a hard part. The shop also specializes in hot steam towel shaves done with a straight razor and regularly attracts clients wanting their beards and mustaches trimmed.
“All the newest styles, we’re up to date with all of them,” said Crosswhite, who graduated from Galion in 2008 and received his barber’s license in 2009. “We’re also very family oriented. We do a lot for our community in Crestline and in Galion.”
He said there’s no wait for appointments, which can be booked online at edsbarbershop2.booksy.com or by calling 419-683-2757. The shop is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 to 6 and Saturday from 8 to 12.
“We’re super excited and ready to expand, ready to grow and help people with more affordable haircuts.”