Family Barber Shop

The shop’s storefront. Photo by Horacio Ramirez

Family Barber Shop is located in a small, one room shop just off the intersection of Carrollton and Oak Street. To the left of their small shop is a large building housing Rue de la Course (a coffee shop) in most of its space with a small yoga studio below. To the right there is a shoe store and an ice cream parlor. The business has occupied the same building since 1966. Prior to that, from 1946-66, it was located further up Oak Street in what is now the Ace Hardware Store. The barbershop and its proprietor, Lynward J. Adams, known to most as “Bud” or “Buddy,” have a long history with Oak Street and the neighborhood of Carrollton.

The Carrollton Community and Oak Street

Mr. Bud’s memories of Carrollton back in his childhood are memories of a stand-alone community. They had their own schools, their own Mardi Gras parades, their own businesses and community. This points to one of the most interesting things about the Carrollton area: it was originally its own town, incorporated in 1833. It sprang up along the Mississippi River as a resort locale with summer homes for the wealthy of New Orleans and a year-round suburb for those who didn’t wish to live in the city. Thanks to the streetcar line, which eventually evolved into what we know today as the St. Charles Streetcar, Carrollton was relatively easy to get to. It is one of the few areas of New Orleans with a consistent grid and layout, likely because a professional surveyor, Charles Zimpel, planned the area out. In 1875, Carrollton was officially annexed by the city of New Orleans. But, it still maintains its unique identity (Chase).

Oak Street, where the barbershop is located, has developed into a large commercial hub for the district over the past century. Mr. Bud shared with us his memories of growing up around the street. He credits much of its continued success to the exposure it gets from being a two way street and, more recently, to the Po’ Boy fest held every year on Oak. But, it has been a commercial center for many years. At one point in the early 1900’s there were even seven barbershops, many of which were one room, one-chair operations. Over the years and even now, very few buildings have stood or stand empty. Oak Street has done well as a commercial hub and continues to do so (Lyward).

A different angle. Photo by Horacio Ramirez

Family Barber Shop

When Bud came back from the Navy in his twenties, his father told him he could “be a barber or go to work.” His father’s one room shop became the family business that today is known as Family Barber Shop. It was actually relatively common for GIs that were coming home to go into barbering. Getting a license took only two months and getting started was relatively easy. In an interview with Mr. Bud, he told us that he didn’t think that he could have chosen a better profession, citing the great experience of getting to meet people from all over the world and the thrill of the art of barbering (Lyward).

Bud’s current shop is a three-chair operation. He has worked with a few different barbers over the years, but currently he works with Ed Serpas who manages the shop, and his wife, Kim. They have a pool of customers from all over. Bud’s career in the Navy and Army and Ed’s with the Navy attract a large crowd from the armed forces, and many students come from Tulane University and Loyola. Since Ed added the shop to Google Maps, people have flocked in from Metairie and other areas in search of a simple barbershop. And, of course, tourists and visitors from all over the world walk by and decide that they are in need of a shave and a haircut.

Technology has integrated itself into the shop over the years. The warm interior shows a contrast between the old fashioned Coke dispenser and the Wifi box and flat screen TV. Old-fashioned barber poles are still outside along with more modern replicas. The shaving process is the best of both worlds. Both of the Serpases still use an old-fashioned straight edge razor (with the utmost care to sanitation) then a fine electric razor is used to get close down to the skin and reduce irritation. Then there is the famous shoulder massage machine, straight out of an old movie. The chairs are classic barbershop chairs and beautiful in their red leather antiquity.

In Their Own Words

Lyward “Buddy” Edwards, proprietor and barber at Family Barber Shop, said,” After the war, you couldn’t find a job but you could get a license in 2 months. Well my dad, this was his shop and he said, ‘Well boy, what ya wanna do, be a barber or go to work?’ That scared the hell out of me, so I became a barber. I figured I’d go to work for the government a short time, but I liked working here too much. Here you meet so many people from every category in life. You’ll never become a millionaire, but why worry too much.”