Laron Criswell, co‑owner of Shears Beauty and Barber Shop in Bayview, welcomed a steady stream of school‑aged children for the shop’s annual free back‑to‑school haircut event. The tradition, which began decades ago, includes a complimentary haircut, a backpack giveaway, and discounted services for foster youth and families.
“We like to give back,” Criswell said, noting the deep ties the shop has with the neighborhood. “A haircut ain’t nothing. It’s a give and a take.” The shop’s commitment to the community is rooted in its family history; Criswell and co‑owner Kevin Traksley inherited the business from their grandfather, Howard Crowther, who bought the shop in 1971. The barbershop has occupied its Third and Newhall Street location since 1949 and was once the unofficial barber for San Francisco Giants players in the 1960s.
Extra Help This Year
This year, local nurse Widmear “Wid” Jean‑Mary, director of the Bay Area event group “A Thing to Talk About,” contributed the remainder of his nursing stipend to fund haircuts for 38 children. Jean‑Mary and his business partner watched as kids filled the modest shop, playing hide‑and‑seek and listening to Criswell’s motivational advice to stay in school.
“I talk a whole lot of smack,” Criswell joked when asked about his pep talks. He has been sweeping floors and cutting hair at Shears since 1997, and Traksley since 1998, and both say the work remains rewarding.
Challenges and Community Resilience
After the COVID‑19 pandemic, Bayview’s commercial corridor fell silent, and foot traffic has been slow to return. Yet the barbershop remains a neighborhood hub, drawing regulars who often stop by for a chat or a bite of Criswell’s homemade egg rolls. “I like to make my neighborhood look better one head at a time,” Criswell said.
The shop’s dedication to free services and its status as one of the oldest Black‑owned businesses in San Francisco highlight the importance of preserving local, family‑run enterprises that strengthen community bonds.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.
