Ypsilanti barbershop to close Dec. 31 after 34 years in business on Washtenaw
Dale Hill, owner of Headquarters Hair Cutting in Ypsilanti, cuts the hair of Chris Savvides, 15, of Ypsilanti. His business is closing Friday after 38 years in business.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
For almost 40 years, Dale Hill of Ypsilanti has cut hair in the building located at 1495 Washtenaw Avenue — first as an employee of His and Hers Barbershop and then as the owner of Headquarters Haircutting, which was the name he gave to the business after purchasing it in 1976.
But all that will end come Dec. 31 as Hill closes his business because property owner Jeff Brookshire leased the shop's half the building to a tenant that wants to expand.
Headquarters shares the space with Cash-4-Gold which will be taking over the whole building as of Jan. 1. Robert Esshaki, owner of the Washtenaw Avenue branch, confirmed his business has signed a five-year lease for the entire building.
As Hill tells it, he has never been late on his rent during his tenancy and he claims Brookshire called Hill the best tenant he’d ever had. Hill also claims that Brookshire told him and his brother Mark, who has worked for Hill since 1978, that the space was theirs as long as they needed it.
Two days later, Hill said Brookshire informed the brothers that they either had to take a five-year lease on the entire building or be out at the end of the year.
“In 34 years, I’ve never been late with the rent, and this is the thanks we get,” Hill said.
Hill said that given the current economic climate, he was not willing to assume the liability of subleasing the other half of the building.
“In these times, I’m just not willing to take that on,” Hill said. “They’re practically giving space away on Washtenaw these days.”
The sign announcing the shop's closing.
Hill said Brookshire offered him a space in a different location, but he wasn’t interested.
“How are you (Brookshire) going to put us out of one location and put us in another?” Hill asked. “That just doesn’t even make sense.”
In an email to Ann Arbor.com, Brookshire says the formal lease arrangement ended in August 2009 and the two parties entered a month-to-month rental agreement.
“The landlord assumed the risk the tenant might elect to move or close the business at a moment's notice,” Brookshire wrote. “The tenant assumed the risk the landlord might elect to make other business decisions.”
Brookshire added that because of the month-to-month arrangement, “there was no lease to lose.”
“It is unfortunate the business relationship has come to this end,” Brookshire wrote.
But in the meantime Headquarters remains open and continues to serve legions of faithful customers.
One of those customers, Tim Bailey, 58, drives in from Dearborn once a month just to get his haircut by Hill. He started coming to the shop in 1972 when he was a student at Eastern Michigan University.
“Even when I lived in California, I would always get a haircut here every time I’d come home for a visit,” Bailey said.
That’s what makes Headquarters special Hill said.
“We know all our customers and they know us,” Hill said. His brother, Mark, added that many of their customers have been coming for 30 years or more.
Once Headquarters closes the Hill brothers have other opportunities waiting. Both own lawn care and snow removal businesses that they have worked in addition to the barbershop.
“We'll just work a little harder on those now,” Mark Hill said.
Headquarters will operate its normal business hours through Dec. 31.
Wendy Ochoa is freelance writer in the news and business sections. She is also a journalism student at Washtenaw Community College where she writes for the Washtenaw Voice.
Comments
jim mullin
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 12:28 p.m.
Its sad to see another Barber Shop bite the dust. We are becoming exctinst. We have been operating as licensed barber shop since the 40's and plan on continuing to. If anyone wants that service feel free to look us up at-G and H barbers,3026 Packard Ann Arbor for barber shop service .We also take appointments. Here to serve you.
Glenn Tomford
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 3:28 p.m.
The day Headquarters closes will be a sad day for our community. We have endured much with our plant and school closings and now this. A well respected and contributing family business with many long time and loyal customers is going to be gone. I am a loyal customer of Headqaurters and have been from the beginning. I remember Dale cutting my hair for free before I got married some 28 years ago. I also remember Mark giving both my grown children their first haircuts and then coming over to my mom's house to give my dad haircuts after he got sick and couldn't travel. I sure hope Cash-For-Gold (CFG) or whatever it is contributes good things for our community like Dale and Mark have for so many years. I also extend CFG and Brookshire many well wishes but won't be going out of my way to give them any of my business. Thanks Dale and Mark for the many good haircuts and memories to go along with them. Well wishes from me and my family to you and yours.
BornInA2
Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 2:14 p.m.
Is this realtor/landlord actually so self-deluded that he thinks a fly-by-night franchise based solely on record-high gold prices is a more stable tenant than a locally-owned shop that's been there for 34 years? I predict the gold shop will be gone within three years and the landlord will be left holding his "secure" lease with no viable business to pay it.
joe golder
Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 10:26 a.m.
Gee!! not a bad idea. I could afford to buy more gold at the exchange. maybe I will be able to afford more things at the new pawn shop coming.
stunhsif
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 11:43 p.m.
I used to go the barber every two months for a 15 dollar haircut plus tip. I quit that 8 years ago and felt bad for my barber of 10 years but money was tight. I bought a cheap Wahl clipper ( 30 bucks) and figure for that 30 bucks spent, I have saved over 1,000 dollars. Not a bad return on the 30 dollar trimmer!
Jim Pryce
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 6:53 p.m.
I've been in Dale & Mark's shop many times & seen some of the clients who were going in next door at the cash for gold shop. For a guy with a CPL & being 6'1" & 300 plus lbs, they are pretty scary looking folks. Just what Ypsilanti needs to encourage into the neighborhood.
mkestly
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 5:02 p.m.
...I've been there, also, many times and consider Dale and Mark to be true friends. There is an effort in Washtenaw County to help the *Washtenaw Corridor" and having the pawn-shop expand will make it look more like "Potterville" without George Bailey.
jns131
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 5:01 p.m.
This too will end either at the end of 5 years or sooner. I see these places as fly by nite. Good luck to Dale. The days of mom and pop shops are being squeezed out of site by people like this who want more money. Remind me to boycott Century 21 when we come time to sell our home.
Snarf Oscar Boondoggle
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 4:05 p.m.
hmmmm seems as if the ppl geting a haircut now... will be teh community. howzever... if what @johnnya2 said above is realtively accurate, cash4gold would have moved out for larger quarters (dollarrs??) anyway. push came to shove and the community has gotten clipped. sad to see headquareters on the shove(l). maybe some other land-LORD (perhalps from a differnet SHIRE) can accoomodate $4Au and a different renter could be headquarters' new building-share?
uptodate citizen
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 2:24 p.m.
Yes, a specialty pawn shop in place of a common community asset. The worst of the effect of materialism in place of a good community connection. The effect of the community not caring about the community, until the good assets are gone.
Soothslayer
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 1:39 p.m.
Maybe they can open up a Cash For Guns shop next door and expand into a Cash for TomTom's, laptops & watches and everything else that's stolen... oh thats a pawn shop. Tough times are a boon to all of the paycheck advance & "Cash for" scam businesses as people scramble to pay bills & feed their families. Paycheck advance companies want in the banking business and should be regulated as such. Q: How can you tell if any of the "Cash for" merchandise was stolen A: You can't.
CountyKate
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 1:35 p.m.
I think I can remember not to do business with anyone named Brookshire. I'll bet others can, too.
joe golder
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 12:51 p.m.
It won't be long before we here about a law suit against the pawn shop want to be's breaking their lease with mr. Brookshire. It would be much easier to find someone who want's to invest in ypsi and take advantage of the already established business mr. Hill has established over years, than some fly by night pawn shop types. It's time people realize just how close we are to loosing the quality of life thats slipping away. emu isn't helping the washtenaw business corridor by keeping visitors on campus spending money at franchises they own. It's money that is desperately needed by all businesses in ypsilanti. Just look at the impact um has on the business in ann arbor. Mr. Hill please go back to the table and talk about a 1 year lease. Mr. Brookshire's desire for a 5 year lease is outrageous. Mr. Brookshire I hope you understand what you are doing and the impact it will have on your future doing business in Ypsilanti.
newsboy
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 11:38 a.m.
Lets see; we have a Strip club, Nail shop, Liquor store, no grocers and recently Cash for stolen treasure. Sounds like eight mile to me! The state should have a 5 day waiting period before you can receive cash for jewels that may or may not be stolen.
Lovaduck
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 11:26 a.m.
Though I live in the Southwest now, I was just thinking how I miss Dale and Mark's haircuts (far less expensive than down here) and Mark's cutting my lawn! Thanks guys (my Dad before he passed away, and I went there for close to 30 years!) Headquarters even loaned me a wig for a play I was in in the '80's. A nice business will be gone for what sounds essentially like a pawn shop. Just what Washtenaw Ave needs! Phooey on Brookshire!
jim nowling
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 10:46 a.m.
Anyone that knows Jeffrey V. Brookshire are not shocked by this. Dale and Mark Hill are two of the finest people that you'll meet and have proved that through the years. This is another sad day for Ypsilanti!!!!
Evelyn Griffin
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 10:42 a.m.
After reading the comments from "harm" and diannebee", I am appalled that the city is letting this happen. We need ligament businesses in this town, not another pseudo-pawn shop to drag our reputation down. How convenient that it is a little closer to Ann Arbor to make it more convenient for the break in artist to sell their goods. Shame on Brookshire. This would make me think twice before doing any business with them. EvieG
johnnya2
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 10:30 a.m.
I think this article is a bit misleading. There is no lease. Headquarters could up and move at the drop of a hat. The landlord would prefer to have something set for 5 years rather than live month to month. That is not only a good business decision for the landlord, it is also good for the economic viability of an area. The barber shop has been on a month to month tenancy since August of 2009. They were offered to take over the entire building and sublet to the same guy who is expanding his business into his. He would then have been the landlord for Cash 4 Gold, AND kept his business. Cash 4 Gold and its owners were willing to take the risk that the Hills were not. How is this a bad thing?
Dave Ollila
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 9:36 a.m.
Will certainly miss Dale as my barber -- and what a sudden loss of yet another long time business for the Ypsi community. Guess the years of loyalty to 30 year on-time leasers is not as important these days.
dianebee
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 9:31 a.m.
Part of the story that has not been included is that the gold store asked the City of Ypsilanti to zone the building for a Pawn Shop! I live nearby and don't like having a trashy shop that buys gold, and assume that they are expanding for more of the same. I expect the pawn shop to appear in the future, even though the zoning was denied. Great, more trash. So now our neighborhood can be robbed and they can sell our stuff so very conveniently! My son and husband will miss the barbershop!
boll weevil
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 9:26 a.m.
Thanks for being my barber for 25 years, Dale, and for the many, many laughs we've all shared in the barbershop. Best of luck to you and Peg, and to Mark and Dorinda!
Harm
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 9:12 a.m.
"CASH FOR GOLD"? The landlord is kicking out a LEGITIMATE, on time rent payer for a business that is, well, of questionable 'authenticity'? A sad day for Ypsi, and Washtenaw, business. I'm sorry that the landlord has decided to take this course of action.
salineguy
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 8:42 a.m.
The number of times I have stopped to get my haircut there were great. Mark is a good guy. Sounds like both parties have made business decisions, which is fine. Short sighted on the part of the Century 21 Brookshire in my opinion, but they have every right to do so. A business that has worked for three decades versus one the may or may not be around in a year may turn out to be unwise.
Teri
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 7:42 a.m.
My husband, Jerry Gyde, has gone to Dale for over 30 years since we have lived in Ypsilanti. Dale has become a family friend just by knowing him. We will feel the "gap" his service leaves in our community and that corner of Washtenaw will never be the same! Dale is one of the kindest and most honorable people we know. He is generous and a peace loving person. It is a shame what the landlord is doing to a faithful leaser! We cherish the memories, Dale!