Barbershop keeps them coming back

When Claudia Kirkebo purchased Leland’s on Wall four years ago, she knew what she was getting into. She had worked at the barbershop since 2001, so when the opportunity came to purchase it, she didn’t hesitate.

“I’ve always wanted to own a barbershop,” said Kirkebo, who relocated from Seattle. “When I came over here to visit my kids, I’d drive around downtown and look for a good spot to have a barber.”

Now Leland’s is celebrating more than 50 years as a downtown barbershop.

The business has only had four owners, starting with Leland C. Kusske.

Kirkebo researched the history of her little shop and found that Kusske opened a barbershop named Lee’s at 207 N. Wall St. in 1958.

Prior to that, Kusske had a barbershop on North Fiske Street for a couple of years.

“A big fire destroyed the original building here on Wall in January of 1966,” Kirkebo said, yet Kusske reopened his barbershop in the current location later that year. He called it Leland’s, and that’s been the name ever since.

Longtime customer Harold Dahlen, 91, has had his hair cut at Leland’s since its early days.

“I never go anywhere else, never did,” said Dahlen, who has a good mop of bright white hair.

When asked what makes a Leland’s haircut so good, Dahlen’s wife, Helen, chimed in: “He likes the girls rubbing his hair.”

Dahlen laughed and said that’s part of it, but he really liked Kusske.

“He was a good man, and he always had good people here,” Dahlen said. When Kirkebo took over, Dahlen saw no need to go anywhere else. “They do a good job here.”

The founder of Leland’s is now retired but comes by the shop once in a while. “It’s always good to see him walk in here,” Kirkebo said.

Another steady client is Richard Carlson, 88, who started frequenting Leland’s in 1958.

Carlson owned Burt’s Shoes at 710 W. Main Ave. until it closed in 1978.

“I retired at the time, and I’ve been playing golf ever since,” Carlson said.

He began going to Leland’s because it was just around the corner from his own shop.

What makes a good haircut for Carlson?

“That they do it the same way every time,” he said. “I want it done just like last time. And they just do a great job here.”

Kirkebo said barbers are a dying breed.

“We only do men, and yes, we get a lot of older people, but we get younger people, too,” she said.

She remodeled the shop when she bought it and said many customers thought she was going to turn it into something else.

That thought never crossed her mind, she said.

“It’s fun here like it is,” said Kirkebo, “and I like that I now see families. Grown men bring in their kids.”

Kirkebo said she’s also grateful for people like Dahlen, who’s been coming every couple of weeks for more than 50 years.

“Yes,” Dahlen said, smiling, “I’m just lucky I still got some hair left.”