Glory Days Barbershop is more than just a barbershop. The small one-room building is also utilized as a concert space and to display works from local artists.
Kyle Rohweder purchased it two years ago as his career in a punk rock band was winding down. Rohweder said the shop needs of renovations. “My floor still needs to be finished. Our chairs needed to be replaced. So far, we have been able to raise enough money to replace one of them. But those chairs cost about a thousand dollars,” Rohweder said.
The shop is located on the corner of E. Simmons St. and S. Cherry St.
Rohweder said he has not had much luck in receiving funding from the city for the renovations. He also said he didn’t want to raise prices at the shop that would affect who he calls his blue-collar customer base.
That’s when he turned to crowdfunding, a method often used for charities and artistic endeavors. Rohweder setup a GoFundMe page to raise the money for the renovations.
“In order for me to be able to do that without having to ask our government for help since they weren’t real eager to do that anyway. I figured, what better way to ask for a little bit of help from the people that give this place life anyway,” Rohweder said.
Rohweder said he has raised around $1,300 so far from both the web site and through in-person donations. The web page lists a goal of $7,000. He’s received 30 donations so far from the GoFundMe, with the biggest individual gift being a $200 contribution.
