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Kutters, 1916 Waldo Road, a locally owned barber shop in Gainesville, was built by L.C. Goolsby in 1959. (Daniel Smithson/ WUFT News)
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Bill Goolsby, 57 , the son of L.C. Goolsby and current owner of Kutters, laughs while cutting hair and cracking jokes Saturday, Dec. 5. (Daniel Smithson/ WUFT News)
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Antique signs and pictures from the 1960s hang on the wall in Kutters barber shop. (Daniel Smithson/ WUFT News)
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A recognizable barber shop light, that is over 30 years old, is something customers use to know when Kutters is open for business (Daniel Smithson/ WUFT News)
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Richard Miles, Ph.D., former professor of poultry nutrition and management with the University of Florida department of animal sciences (left) gets his hair cut while listening to Goolsby discuss politics on Saturday, Dec. 5. (Daniel Smithson/ WUFT News)
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Bill Goolsby talks politics with his customers on Saturday, Dec. 5. (Daniel Smithson/ WUFT News)
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Daniel Cole, 25, a regular customer at Kutters gets his “usual” on Saturday, Dec. 5. (Daniel Smithson/ WUFT News)
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Bill Goolsby uses a vacuum to add the finishing touches to a haircut on Saturday, Dec. 5. (Daniel Smithson/ WUFT News)
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The barber chairs inside Kutters today are the original chairs that were in the shop when it opened in 1959. (Daniel Smithson/ WUFT News)
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Kutters, a family-owned barber shop, cuts hair by appointment but also welcomes walk-ins. (Daniel Smithson/WUFT News)
A small building on the side of Waldo Road sits untouched by the change of time.
Opened in 1959, Kutters has been a longstanding Gainesville barbershop owned by 57-year-old Bill Goolsby.
After his father L.C. Goolsby was diagnosed with emphysema, he built Kutters, 1916 Waldo Road, according to Bill. It was built right next to their home so his father could cut hair as long as he could.
His father died in 1981.
Goolsby took over his father’s barber duties in January 1980 and has been running the shop ever since.
“I’ve been here for 37 years,” Goolsby said. “I think I have another 37 years in me.”
Conversations during a normal day in the antique barber shop range from fishing-trip stories and jokes to political debates.
Most of Goolsby’s customers are regulars. One of Goolsby’s 93-year-old customers, Bob Ernst, said Goolsby keeps him looking good for the women at his retirement home.
“Billy, you keep those ladies over there looking at me,” Ernst said. “It’s a good thing I know how to run.”
Kutters is open Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Kutters charges $12 for men’s cuts and $22 for women’s cuts.
