It’s getting close to Christmas, so for many people,
including me, that means getting a haircut to look and feel our best for the
holiday season.
I’ve been getting my haircut at Scottie’s since I moved away
from Millington and was living in Washington, D.C., more than 20 years ago now.
When I would come home on holidays to visit, my dad would take me to Scottie’s
because that’s where he would get his haircut.
Being a career military man, my dad was particular about his
haircut and his appearance. While he had many different jobs in the U.S. Army,
I think he was proud of having been a recruiter, where he was always required
to look sharp. His barber at Scottie’s was Barry Laxton, who retired several
years ago.
Toward the end of his life, my dad spent seven months under
the care of hospice at home, with me as his caregiver. He wanted a haircut badly,
but couldn’t get out of bed. So, I called Scottie’s and Barry came to our home.
Barry was not a small man, but I watched him climb up on my dad’s full-size bed
and give him a haircut. It was one of the most extraordinary acts of caring and
kindness I have been privileged to witness. My dad was happy, and he felt
better. Barry gave my dad his last haircut and refused to accept payment.
The folks at Scottie’s, especially my stylist Lisa, continue
to take care of me, too. It’s a level of customer service and caring that I
doubt folks in Washington, D.C. would be able to find, but in Millington, it’s
business as usual.
Scottie’s, a local, independent, small business has been a
part of the Millington community for more than 60 years.
Scottie’s, founded by barber Scottie Gladney has been in
business since 1957. For many years, the shop was located in the retail center
on Navy Road. Scottie’s moved to its current location at 8370 Highway 51 N., in
Patriot Plaza 15 years ago.
The team of stylists includes Susan Gladney (Scottie’s
daughter-in-law), Lisa Hawkins, Pam Shinosky and Tony Smith, who together have
more than 125 years of experience. They were all rigorously trained by Scottie,
often staying after hours in the shop until late in the evening. He had high
standards and specific ways he wanted things done. Pam says, “Scottie always
said, ‘You’re only as good as your worst haircutter,’ and none of us are that.
We’ve all been trained by Scottie, but we all have our own style, everybody’s
good.”
And, for the more than 20 years that I have been a customer,
at turns Scottie, his stepson Michael Easter, Pam and Lisa have all cut my hair,
and I have never had a bad haircut there. It’s true. They are all good!
The four stylists became business partners nearly seven years ago, taking the shop over from Scottie. “We work well together, we’re a family and a
team,” Lisa comments. The team also includes “magic fingers" Melissa Yager, who
will give you a wonderful, relaxing massage while she shampoos your hair.
Scottie’s doesn’t take appointments. Pam explains, customers are first-come, first
served, going back to the early days when Scottie began as a barber, as barbers
rarely take appointments. Over time, walk-in salons became trendy and the shop
used beepers to let their customers know their stylist was ready for them.
Today, cell phones work well. However,
Pam says, “We know our system doesn’t work for everyone.”
Tony says many people travel as far as a 100-mile radius to
come to the shop, and there also are many customers who (like this writer, did)
come to Scottie’s when they are in town visiting family and friends. I have a
friend who travels the world with the U.S. State Department. When she comes
back to Millington, she always goes to Scottie’s to have Tony cut her hair. Pam
notes, there also are many military families who come back to Scottie’s
after being stationed elsewhere. “We take pride in that,” she says.
With 40 years, Tony is the member of the team of stylists
who has been at Scottie’s the longest.
Recently, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving there were 25
people lined up in front of the shop before it opened it doors.
Customer Susan Chambers, originally from the Missouri
Bootheel, has been coming to Scottie’s since 2002. She says her mother always
insisted on getting her hair done at Scottie’s on her way home from the
hospital.
Prices range from $26 for a men’s haircut and style to $36
for a ladies haircut, a ladies cut, color and style is $83, and ladies
highlights with cut and style range from $100 and up. Through December 31st at
noon, Scottie’s is currently offering 20 percent off on their complete line of styling
products, which includes brands like Matrix, Paul Mitchell, Rusk and much more.
Lisa says, “We love what we do. We want our shop to be a
loving shop. We want you to sit in our chair and listen to your heart. We treat
everybody with loving care. It’s more than just doing hair.”
Scottie’s is located at 8370 Highway 51 N., Suite 109. Shop hours are Tuesday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday & Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and
Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (901) 873-HAIR (4247) for more
information.