HAYWARD - It’s an old–fashioned barber shop with a whole lot of history.  It’s the oldest business in Hayward and the co–owners have been cutting hair together side by side since the 1970's.

When you step into Grey's Barber Shop on Hayward’s Main Street, it's like stepping back in time.  Co-owner Dean Rindahl says, "We can hear people walking by saying, oh look kids; it's an old time barber shop."  And it's one that has been around since the 19th century.  "We got our 3rd generation we are working on in here, kids, grandkids, it's been a good time," said co-owner Ron Wittwer.  Co–owners and old friends Wittwer and Rindahl have been cutting and clipping hair together for 36 years.  "It’s been a good living, you don't get rich but you've always got a dollar in your pocket," said Wittwer.  "It’s a fun job, I’ve done it, it seems all my life," said Rindahl.

And its walk–ins only at this barber shop.  “Hey, you've got a full head of hair there mister!” said barber Glen Bethel.  For a standard charge of $14, you can take a seat in the barber chair; good stories and laughter is required.  "It’s always light hearted in here.  Whatever you are interested in, they are interested in it too or they put on a good show, said Steve Hand of Hayward. 

Grey's Barber Shop is the oldest business in Hayward and it's been a barber shop since it first opened it's doors in 1892, the old time business even has the original spinning barber pole.  "They are a big symbol, they really are," said Rindahl.  "I feel very fortunate that this is the one business on Main Street that still goes under the name that it did in 1900," said former owner Carol Ann Grey.  Grey's father Antone started cutting hair in this very shop when he was just 13 years old.  "He was fun, he was what you call the old time barber, he'd get in there with the shears and just took away, had a ball," said Rindahl.  Rindahl got a chance to work with Antone "Tony" Grey for a few years back in the 1970's.  In 2005; he bought the shop from Carol Ann Grey.  "I always say that my father looks down upon me because I could have sold the building for $5,000 more but the individual didn't want to keep it as a barber shop so I sold it to Dean Rindahl for $5,000 less because he wanted to keep it as a barber shop and the Grey name," said Carol Ann Grey.

Today it still operates under the name, Grey's Barber Shop and over the years these barber chairs have seen their share of customers from a Supreme Court Justice to Senators and even Al Capone.  "My dad was cutting Al Capone’s hair and there was a car in the front running with a driver in it and there was a man standing in the door," said Carol Ann Grey.  Grey says she wanted to come in to ask her dad for a nickel to go to the ice cream shop but the man stopped her at the door.  "I said well, that’s my daddy in there, I want to go and get a nickel from him.  Well, when he let me through the door, Al Capone had a $5 bill and he handed it to me, that was my nickel," said Grey.

These walls hold a lot of memories for Grey and other locals who have been getting their hair cut here for decades.  "Both my sons had their haircut here and now they are doing my grandson's hair," said Steve Hand.  "They are not just customers, they are friends," said Wittwer.  "And that's what's nice about it, it's the people," said Rindahl.  It’s been the heart of Hayward for more than a century and the customers keep coming back for a little slice of the good old days.  "Just lucky to be able to do it," said Rindahl.