Shop gets new owner

The Dunkirk Barber Shop is back in business.

New owner Logan Nelson, 27, held a grand opening on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Even though the longtime Dunkirk business will have the same name, it won’t just be for men.

Nelson is a licensed cosmetologist, graduating from Amber’s Beauty School in 2014, but is in the process of getting her barber’s license from Grace Beauty College in Muncie. She hopes to finish the 300-hour course by the end of the summer. Having the dual license will allow her to use a straight razor for shaves.

“Talking to different guys, I think it would be something that they would enjoy,” Nelson said of the shave.

Nelson said she hopes male and female customers will feel welcome to visit the new shop.

“I’ve had a lot of women reach out,” Nelson.

“Hopefully once I open and they see women in here, they hear about, hopefully that will raise awareness,” she said of them feeling welcome in a barber shop. 

Growing up in Dunkirk, Nelson remembers her younger brother getting his hair cut by longtime barbers Rod Hardwick and Dave Farmer at Dunkirk Barber Shop. She didn’t know at the time that she would go to beauty school but still thought it would be neat to own the shop.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I think every person, when they go to school to be a cosmetologist or a barber, you know that’s everybody’s end goal,” Nelson said. 

After friends told her the Dunkirk Barber Shop was for sale, Nelson said, “It happened at the right time and I moved on it.”

She is a 2009 graduate of Jay County High School and now resides in Parker City. Her mother Tricia Kahn lives in Bryant. She worked at Great Clips in Noblesville for the past year and before that was at Great Clips in Muncie for 3 years, doing both cuts and managing the salons. 

Also working at the barber shop with Logan will be her friend Mark Tweedy. The two became met when Tweedy was her instructor in beauty school. He is also a licensed cosmetologist and is attending Grace with Nelson to get his barber’s license. The shop will be closed on Tuesdays so they can put in time toward their goal.

“He’s just one of those people, always happy. He has a very contagious personality,” Logan said of Tweedy.

“He’s really excited. I am too,” she said.

Nelson hasn’t made a lot of changes to the shop, but did add more lighting around the mirrors, a chandelier and sinks to the back area and repainted the cabinets and countertops She is keeping it in neutral tones of black and tan for a homey feel.    

Dunkirk Barber Shop will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each Monday; 1 to 8 p.m. each Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each Thursday and Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

The phone number is (765) 702-1010 and walk-ins are welcome.