The barbers wear ties and vests. Everything is covered in masculine wood. The smell of sandalwood fills the senses in every corner of the store. There’s even a spinning barber pole in the window. But “old fashioned” is not the phrase that one will think of when they enter Jonny’s Barbershop.
Opening up just a couple of months ago, Samantha and Steve Elkiw wanted to do something else on First Avenue that they felt would be a benefit to the community, so Jonny’s Barbershop appeared.
“We wanted to bring a youth feeling, something that has an identity for the town’s youth, but also would be an attraction in Ladysmith’s core,” said Samantha.
In partnership with Jonny Trangen, longtime barber and owner of Jonny’s Barbershop in Nanaimo, the trio have created a unique atmosphere in the new venture.
The Ladysmith location, set up similarly to Jonny’s in Nanaimo, has a varied collection of odd collectables from Jonny’s personal collection.
“We stock an ample supply of hair care products and that includes moustaches, beards, shampoos and other personal care products,” Samantha said. “We might have a bit of a different look, one that’s kinda off the wall, but it’s all about getting folks chatting. We cut all kinds of hair, children, women, men’s and a variety of styles.”
Their idea behind getting into barbering, Samantha said, was to eliminate having to go out of town for a haircut.
“Some folks would go for a haircut and then do all their shopping out of town, so hopefully they get their hair cut here and do their shopping locally,” she said.
Dustin Estill, the resident barber said he's always trying new things and refining his skills.
“I've been doing it about three years, so I'm pretty comfortable with all cuts, but I'm always, always trying to grow, to improve,” he said.
He's enjoying the new shop.
“It's fun for when kids come in and they get to look at all the different collectibles and all the fun stuff around and it's just kind of Jonny’s style and so, but the barbershop and the decorations and stuff are unique, but it's not just for kids,” he said.
Ladysmith’s version of Jonny’s Barbershop is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.
“We're trying to bring back Ladysmith being open," Samantha said. "Let's open up and get people walking around and stuff. Let them know what we have here in our town.”
The new barbershop is just another business step for the Elkiws. Besides owning the Four-One-One Apparel, across First Avenue from the barbershop, the couple are co-owners of two other businesses on the highway as well, Jerry's Cannabis and Bayside Vapes, both located at the corner of Gatacre Street and the highway.
Both of those businesses also have locations in Cedar at the community’s mall and the Elkiws are looking at an expansion into Nanaimo in the near future. They employ about 30 people in their ventures.
They don't know what the future will hold, "but we really love Ladysmith and want to be a part of it. The people are great and we want to help bring as much to the town, as much as we can.”
