For 16 years Eugene resident Penny Berry has run the aptly named Campus Barber Shop, located just off campus at 851 E. 13th Ave.
The business, which is decorated with a vaguely psychedelic red-felt wallpaper, mounted animals and vintage barber chairs, has been clipping students’ shaggy locks and whiskers since 1922 but Berry is only the third owner. The Emerald stopped in on Wednesday afternoon to chat with Berry about what makes a barbershop special, how campus is changed and – of course – hair.
Daily Emerald: What’s the story behind you owning this
barber shop?
Penny Berry: Well it was my ex-boyfriend’s dad’s, that owned it, and I bought it from him. He offered it to me and I bought it.
ODE: Had you been working here before?
PB: Actually, I worked for a summer first to see if I liked it or not and I loved it.
ODE: What do you like so much about cutting other people’s hair?
PB: I’ve always liked it. I’ve done it my whole life, but I enjoyed the area, for one thing, and all the international students – I was cutting people’s hair from all over the world. And it was just a really nice environment down here – kinda easy going and that kind of thing – party-like. Well it used to be a lot more like that.
ODE: It used to be more party?
PB: Well there were just a lot more people down here and a lot more crazy people. More colorful people, how’s that?
ODE: What has been the most unusual request you’ve had for
a haircut?
PB: Somebody wanted an eye, they wanted an eye in the hair in the back of their head, carved in, so I did that for him. They said they wanted to see where they’d been (laughing). I’ve seen a few more unusual ones. Like someone had their hair shaped into two horns and the rest of it all shaved off, and he had red hair too. Fixed into two points – that’s what he wanted. And when he left her to go to the bookstore not one person gave him a second look. I was flabbergasted.
ODE: What do people like to talk about when they get their hair cut?
PB: Everything. Everything. Anything, and we encourage that.
ODE: Do you have to be “up” on certain subject matter to be a good barber?
PB: At least be good with words. You’ve got to be able to see the humor in things – subtly. I think I do a pretty good job with that.
ODE: What is special about a barbershop?
PB: You can go in and talk about anything you want without being persecuted for it. I encourage good thinking. People should always question everything I think, you know. That’s really the most important thing. You come here and say how you feel, nobody will hold it against you ever, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In other countries that’s what the barbershop is for. It’s where you can go and voice your political opinion without fear of prosecution – especially in a place like Mexico – it’s a really important place in Mexico.
ODE: So one last thing. What’s up with the wallpaper?
PB: People always ask about it. It’s been here forever and my customers just have a fit if I ever talk about covering it up or taking it down.
ODE: Thanks so much for talking with me.
PB: Thank you.