Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Lynn, Nemitz
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/16/2022
Barbershop Fills Need in Neillsville (Lynn - 2022)
Crystal Lynn has started The Downtown Barbershop in Neillsville. She enjoys “making people feel good about themselves” through a new haircut. Submitted photo
By Valorie Brecht
Crystal Lynn is happy to have her own business that serves to meet a need in Neillsville.
Lynn runs “The Downtown Barbershop,” which has been open about a month.
It’s been busy; business has been really good,” she said.
Lynn is from Madison but moved to Humbird about a year-and-a-half ago. Her boyfriend grew up in Humbird and wanted to move back home, and she cane with him. When Lynn first moved to central Wisconsin, she worked at a barbershop in Eau Claire and was driving 45 minutes one way for work, so she wanted to find something closer to home.
Pretty soon, an opportunity presented itself. Carl Nemitz, who owned and operated Carl’s Barbershop in Neillsville for 44 years, retired Oct. 23.
“I saw that he was retiring and then started looking into it [opening my own shop]. There was no other barber in town since Carl’s closed,” she said.
Although Lynn had never owned her own business, she decided to take a leap of faith and start one. She said it has worked out well so far. About 80% of her clients are Nemitz’s old clients.
“He [Nemitz} has been a really big help. He’s been referring people,” Lynn said.
Although Lynn can do a variety of haircuts, she specializes in short haircuts and styles. She has 10 years of experience in barbering. She is comfortable working with people and very familiar with the service industry.
“I’ve always done customer service, my whole life,” said Lynn.
She said its been gratifying to run her own business and be her own boss. She also finds satisfaction in helping people look and feel their best.
“The biggest thing I enjoy is seeing the change in people. I like seeing the smile on their faces when they see their new haircut. It’s about making people feel good about themselves,” she said.
The Downtown Barbershop is at 631 Hewett St. Hours include Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 715-743-4020.
