Since March, customers have not been able to walk into the Kings of Knockout Barbershop on Castle Hill Avenue, sit in their favorite chair and get a haircut. That is when the state closed all non-essential businesses to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The restrictions were eased Monday for barbers and salons. Javiel Rodriguez said he is eager to get back to work. 

“I owe four months. Four months is like $16,000 of rent,” said Rodriguez, who owns the barbershop.  “I have to speed up and try to catch up.”

He was able to get a non-interest emergency federal loan, and used it to help get his business ready for the new normal.

Customers will get their temperatures taken and documented upon arrival. He bought face masks, gloves and all types of disinfectants. He also installed rods with plastic dividers to keep customers at least six feet from each other and limit the spread of any virus.

Employees will have to wear face shields at all times, clean up their workspaces through out the day and wipe down the door handles every time someone enters or leaves. Rodriguez will also limit the number of people inside at any one time.

“Whoever doesn’t have an appointment can walk in and write their name down on a sheet with their phone number. We will call them while they wait outside. We cannot have them here waiting,” he said.

All staff members at the barbershop will get COVID-19 testing every two weeks. They will share the results with any customer who asks to see them.

Some residents said they think the city and state officials should have waited a little longer before reopening. 

“We are going to be having the same conversations and even worse,” said Castle Hill resident Mel Diaz. 

Rodriguez hopes that will not be the case. 

His shop has been on this block for more than 30 years. Celebrities like salsa legend Eddie Palmieri and the late Big Pun have come here for haircuts. Still, Rodriguez concedes he’s never seen anything quite like the coronavirus.