With 50 years at Cliff’s Barber Shop now in his rear-view mirror, James Edwards marvels at the roots he’s planted and the relationships he’s formed with the barber shop’s loyal patrons.
“I’ve cut kids’ hair as they grow up, and then I watch them go to college. When they come home, they move two blocks away from their parents, and they keep coming in for haircuts,” he said. “This is a great neighborhood.”
Edwards himself has been a resident of San Jose for 55 years.
In 1973, Edwards and Henry Clifford “Cliff” Wynn opened the original Cliff’s Barber Shop together at the intersection of Atlantic and University boulevards, where they operated for two years before moving into the Lakewood Promenade on April 1, 1975.
“Cliff and I laughed realizing it was April Fool’s Day when we signed the lease,” Edwards said. “But, it seems to have all worked out!”
Today, the barber shop operates just next door at 1559 University Boulevard West.
The barber shop has a friendly, old-fashioned feel – in fact, the working cash register is from 1946. Edwards’ hair cuts often include jokes and smiles. Most of their dedicated patrons have been coming in for years.
Edwards recalled a memorable afternoon when the entire boys’ cross country team at The Bolles School came into the barber shop and requested mohawks.
“They assured me their mothers had said it was okay,” laughed Edwards. “The coach asked me to check with him next time!”
Edwards and Wynn worked together for 18 years before Wynn retired. Wynn passed away in 2018 at the age of 97.
“In all our time together, there was never a cross word between us,” Edwards said. “He was very pleasant. I can’t say enough good things about him!”
To Edwards’ son, James Garrett Edwards, Wynn felt like family.
“Cliff was a father figure to my father and a grandfather figure to me,” said James Garrett, who has been cutting hair alongside his dad at Cliff’s Barber Shop for 16 years.
Other family members have also been a part of the business: Edwards’ sister Margie worked at Cliff’s for 28 years and his niece Angel worked there for 30.
“When you work here, you stay here,” said Edwards.
Current stylists Gerri-Anne and Candace have been cutting hair at Cliff’s for four and seven and a half years, respectively. Hair salons run in the family: James Garrett’s wife, Anna, and Edwards’ daughter, Rachel, also run their own salons.
Over the years, Edwards has cut the hair of judges, attorneys, small business owners and even Rod Stewart when he came to town to perform a concert.
“Dad cut Corky Rogers’ hair every game day,” said James Garrett of The Bolles School’s longtime football coach.
Even if Edwards’ clients move away, they still travel back to Jacksonville for their haircuts.
“Dad has people come from Palm Coast, St. Mary’s and Starke,” said James Garrett. “He also goes to cut hair for elderly customers who have been longtime clients in their homes when they reach a point where they’re unable to make it to the barbershop.”
For Edwards, who has “no idea” when he will retire, coming into work each day is a true joy.
“I’ve been here every day, six days a week, for 50 years,” he said. “I’ve only been out with COVID a couple times and the flu once last year. I guess I have a good immune system.”
James Garrett notes that his father rarely does anything for himself and always puts others first.
“I’ve never met a man who treats his employees better than my dad. He is very grateful to his employees,” he said. “He literally is my hero and the best man that I’ve ever met.”
