THE PREGAME BARBERSHOP'S STORY

The Pregame Barbershop is located on 413 E Calder way, State College, Pa. The owner of the shop is Azim Simmons. The shop has a full African American staff working in an area where black businesses are rare to find. The shop became a hit back when it first opened and was named the best Barbershop in State College. Customers would line up outside the door and hang in the shop for hours because of the warm welcoming environment it offered. Everything had changed in 2020 though.
Once the Pandemic hit in March, the shop had to shut down for an extended period and eventually opened back up late June. Despite reopening, the business that came in was nowhere near where it used to be. All the following photos were taken at the Pregame Barbershop.
With Students already back home from the campus closing early spring, A pandemic causing the economy to plummet and limit the amount of people that can be together, the racial wars fuming in America, and one of the biggest elections the United States has ever seen causing a divide in America, it was very hard for the shop to make money. 
After the Election, I returned to the shop. Azim had greeted me happily, but the business still seemed to be at a low. Azim had told me that after the Election the number of Caucasians that had come in had risen a little, but he does not believe he will get the business he once had back until the pandemic is over. With Biden being elected Azim had told me he felt another nationwide shutdown was coming but was willing to cooperate if it will help bring an end to the pandemic. When I left Azim had wished me well and to be safe and healthy and I wished him the same. I have not returned to the shop yet, but I hope one day, I can pop in and catch up and hopefully get some better news from them. The following photographs have all been taken in The Pregame Barbershop.