CROFTON, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Once a week at the Crofton Barbershop the hum of clippers is replaced by the sound of guitar strums, laughter and banter between friends as budding musicians join together to share and learn. This weekly gathering is an opportunity to bring the community together to express love for music.
Owner and barber Justin Greenwell has been in business on East Main Street since 2020, having lived in Crofton since he was 12 years old. The eclectic, homey space reflects his passion for music, also influenced by the traditional barbershop style. He told Christian County Now, “We’ve always kind of attracted that type of person here, artists and just weird people like us. Everybody feels at home, that’s just kind of the vibe we try to keep.”
People that stop by during business hours can get a precise cut, straight razor shave, hot towel treatment, or kids’ haircut in a welcoming, inclusive environment, with newly rescued shop cat Clipper keeping watch and entertaining clients.
Apart from supplying high quality haircuts and services, Greenwell prioritizes community involvement by raising money in the past to benefit local families through car shows. Along with this, he hosts free guitar lessons every Wednesday at 6 p.m. to bring people together and learn.
Community guitar lessons, impact of music
“Music has been a big part of my life, it’s helped me through some hard times. I just really want to be able to share it with people,” he said. Although he has been playing guitar for about 15 years, he was inspired by a Crofton musician and friend Jeff Grace who would come and play the guitar and banjo, fusing music into the barbershop.
“He just became a big fixture of the place, and then he passed and other musicians have carried it on,” said Greenwell, adding that the death of Grace really kickstarted the movement of bringing music into the shop, with friends from various walks of life joining in. Some of the participants in the lessons are expert, lifelong players, while some are working on mastering the basics.
“We formed friendships through the barbershop, through playing together and through listening to music together,” said Patrick, a regular client and participant in the lessons. “It’s a really goofy looking group of people, but we all have a good time, and we learn together and laugh together, and music just brings people together.”
The lessons take place after hours at the shop at no charge, with community members contributing monetary donations and donations of equipment, guitars and music to keep them going. Although attendance fluctuates, they have established a core group who exchange tips and tricks to help each other grow.
“It’s been a good business for me…I’ve made this somewhere where I like to come. It’s not a job, it feels like I just come hang out with my friends,” said Greenwell.
Anyone interested in participating in the lessons can show up a Wednesday night at 114 East Main Street in Crofton and look out for announcements on the Crofton Barbershop Facebook page. They always welcome donations, which can be dropped off at the shop during business hours. For more information about barbershop services, call 270-987-0326.
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