Start school looking good, feeling good

School’s about to begin and Pro Cutz Sports Barbershop owner Chester Hope wants to make sure kids are looking sharp.

For the second straight year, Hope and the rest of his barbers will be providing heavily discounted haircuts for school-aged children on Labor Day, this year Monday, Sept. 4. The shop is charging $5 and then giving continued discounts of $1 for every A in a core course from last year’s fourth quarter marking period. A report card showing the grades is required.

“It’s a good way to help out the community,” said Hope. “It’s good to give back.”

The cuts will be given on a first-come, first-serve, basis, said Hope. Doors open at 8 a.m., and he said, the kids have to be in line by noon. Hope estimated he and his barbers trimmed up 133 heads last year.

“By the time the doors opened at 8, the line was all the way around the corner to the Social Security office,” he said. The shop is located off Route 9, just west of Belltown, in The Vineyards.

Hope said representatives from the Delaware State Police will be handing out free back-to-school bags. Parents must be present for a student to receive a bag, Hope said, adding that Lewes’ Hope Realty is also making this event possible.

Hope said all seven of his shop’s seats will be full, with additional barbers coming in to help. There will be light refreshments served, he said.

Hope said he got the idea of giving kids a free haircut right before school starts from a shop he used to work at before opening Pro Cutz.

“I saw the impact, so we’re doing it here,” he said.

Pro Cutz, 12001 Old Vine Blvd., Suite 104, is located in The Vineyards about a quarter mile west of the Route 9 entrance to Nassau Valley Vineyards.

The shop’s normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday. Call 302-313-4100 for more information.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to say haircuts are not free.