Sammy’s Barber Shop
By Rebecca Cross
Stepping into Sammy’s barber shop is like stepping into a time capsule with an abundance of Elizabeth City history and collections of antiques. There is an old Texaco gas pump inside the front door and deer heads mounted on the wall, along with collections of racecar paraphernalia and a collection of hats. But there is also a red barbershop chair where Sammy Boyd has been cutting men and children’s hair, in some cases, for up to 3-4 family generations. Sammy has been cutting hair for 43 years and he’s “loved every minute of it”. Thirty four of those years have been on Colonial Avenue in downtown Elizabeth City. Sammy has seen a lot of changes here and he loves Downtown and its people. “It’s family oriented and you meet so many people from all walks of life,” says Sammy. “You can talk to people of all levels, and, as they say ‘beauty shops gossip but barber shops tell the truth!’”
Originally from Greenville, NC, Sammy moved to Elizabeth City in 1978. Cutting hair is something Sammy always wanted to do. It ran in the family on his dad’s side of the family with Uncles and Cousins who were in the hair cutting business. After graduating from High School, Sammy went to Barber College and began his hair cutting career. Then when “Hippies were in style” (and long hair) Sammy went to work for the Rescue Dept. and Fire Dept. in the City of Greenville. He went back to full time hair cutting after the “Hippie movement had ended”. He said you need the gift of gab and the right personality to succeed as a 
barber. Sammy has both. He loves the variety of customers he has been privileged to service over the years. “It is so interesting to hear peoples’ stories and what they’ve seen”, he said. You never know who you will meet in the barber chair. Sammy told me that once a couple of police officers went to Canada and at the Border crossing they spoke to the Border guard who they found out actually knew Sammy!
Sammy is also proud of his collections in the shop and lovingly refers to it as a “museum and barber shop”. He restores and resells old antique barber chairs and he also picks up antiques and collectibles to sell out of his barbershop. On his wall near the barber chair are highway patrol badges from different counties, all over the US and the world. He also has photos of troopers’ cars including the first car and motorcycle with the highway patrol. He has special memories attached to some of the items that have been given to him through the years. Chief Owens and Sheriff Sawyer both gave him their hat and badge when they retired. I can tell from the memories on the wall, the padded pew seating, the old 50’s-60’s music in the background, and the great customer service, that Sammy’s Barber Shop is comfortable, friendly, and a good place to be.
Sammy’s hours of operation are 8:30am to 4:45pm Monday and Tuesday, closed Wednesday, open Thursday and Friday 8:30am to 4:45pm, Saturday 8:30-11am and closed Sunday. The shop is located at 508 E. Colonial Ave, Elizabeth City, 252-335-7075.