Lincoln Way Barber Shop Celebrates 140 Years With $1.40 Haircuts

PLAINFIELD, IL — On Tuesday morning after Memorial Day, 140-year-old Lincoln Way Barber Shop on Lockport Street is bustling with activity. Don Kinley, the shop’s fourth-generation owner, had to step into the shop’s basement to take a phone call with Patch.

“The barber shop is busy, which is good,” Don, 84, said as he went to find a quiet spot.

As summer returns to the Chicago area this week, Lincoln Way is also celebrating a milestone of its own. The barber shop turns 140, and it’s marking the anniversary with $1.40 haircuts June 1-5.

Albert Worst, Don's great-grandfather, first opened the shop in 1881, when it was originally known as The Al Worst Barber Shop — though some nicknamed it “the Worst barber shop in Plainfield.” Since then, the shop has remained in the family's hands, and Don and his wife, Sharon, are the current owners.

Albert stopped cutting hair in 1928, which was the year his son, Floyd — who gave his first shave at 15 — took over, according to Sharon. For about 63 years, Floyd worked at the shop before passing it on to his son, Bob. In 1993, Bob died and Don purchased the business.

Lincoln Way has been located at its current address, 24045 W. Lockport St., since 1902. In 1902, the building was built new for the shop, which had been previously located down the street, according to Sharon. In all its years of business, Lincoln Way hasn’t left Lockport Street.

The shop's name change came about in the 1940s, Sharon said, when the owners switched names in honor of the Lincoln Highway, one of the first transcontinental routes for cars. It spans about 3,000 miles of the country between New York City and San Francisco.

Having been cutting hair since 1955, Don said being a barber was something he wanted to do since junior high school. It was what kept him going, he said.

"I didn’t even think about [anything else]," he said. "I knew I wanted to be a barber. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed never dreading going to work.”

Don even used to cut people's hair when he was in the Army.

“That wasn’t my job, but I still cut hair in the Army,” Don said.

Although Don doesn't cut hair in the shop as much nowadays, he had a monumental moment on Monday: He gave his 15-month-old great-grandson his first haircut.

Throughout it all, Sharon, who was a first-grade teacher for about 30 years, was by his side.

"I just try to encourage Don to do the best he can do," Sharon, 82, said.

In honor of the anniversary, aside from the celebratory discount, Lincoln Way will be hosting an open house at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 6. The event will feature two barber shop quartets performing until 3 p.m., and visitors can get a "quick history lesson" from the photos and information displayed throughout the shop.

Reminiscing, Don and Sharon agreed that the century-old barber shop wouldn't be possible without the people working and engaging with customers on a daily basis.

“Through the years, [Lincoln Way] had really good barbers that have worked there, and they’re good with people,” Sharon said. “The important part of this is it’s not just about the Worsts and the Kinleys, it’s about the barbers that have been … good barbers."

“That’s the reason why the shop is still going,” Don added.

Lincoln Way Barber Shop is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Haircuts regularly cost $15, and the shop is first-come, first-served.