Near the corner of Schuylkill Avenue and West Buttonwood, a small building carries decades of quiet significance in Reading’s history. Inside, the hum of clippers and rhythm of conversation speaks to more than just haircuts—it echoes the legacy of a local pioneer and the enduring power of mentorship.
Berks Barber School, now officially re-opened under the leadership of Samuel De la Cruz, is much more than a training ground for future barbers. It’s the continuation of a tradition rooted in opportunity, resilience, and service—one that began under the steady hands and sharp eye of Charlie G. Haynes more than three decades ago.
A Chair, A Craft, A Calling
Charlie Haynes began teaching barbering at a time when few formal pathways existed for young men—especially minority men—seeking a career in the trade. By 1989, he opened his own school, determined to give others the kind of mentorship he himself once had to forge alone.
For many, it was more than a place to learn the 14 steps of a proper shave or master the mechanics of a fade. It was a place of transformation. Young adults found not only skills, but structure. “It wasn’t just a license,” said Mayor Eddie Morán at the school’s recent grand re-opening. “It was a passion instilled to make a difference in the community.”
One of those students was Samuel De la Cruz.
From Student to Steward
In 1999, a 21-year-old De la Cruz walked through the doors of Charlie G. Haynes Barber School with a dream that had taken root more than a decade earlier. He had moved from Passaic, New Jersey to Reading as a teen, and not long after, found a set of clippers in a moving box—his first tool of the trade. With his younger brother as a willing test subject and a growing list of friends seeking $5 cuts, his passion became practice.
Haynes saw something in the young man and accepted him into the program. De la Cruz earned his license that same year and went on to open Double Platinum Barber Shop in 2001. But the pull to teach and give back proved strong.
“I always stayed in touch with Mr. Haynes,” said De la Cruz. “I believe that’s why, when he was ready to retire, he reached out to me to continue on.”
In 2023, De la Cruz purchased the building and reopened the school under a new name—Berks Barber School—but with a mission rooted deeply in the past.
Continuing the Cut
Today, the school is fully operational, with instructors, active enrollment, and its first class of graduates already licensed. It’s also a space designed with intention: clippers buzz alongside quiet lessons in responsibility, respect, and self-worth.
“We talk about safety first—of yourself and of your clients,” De la Cruz said. “And we teach the golden rule. Treat others the way you’d want to be treated.”
As for Haynes, now 90, he remains an honored figure—still present at milestones and still witnessing the ripple effect of the institution he built. “I give it up to God first,” he told the crowd gathered for the ceremony. “We had people from all over come here to learn. It was about giving people a chance.”
A Legacy That Lives On
The reopening of Berks Barber School is as much about the future as it is about the past. For De la Cruz, legacy means honoring those who paved the way while creating new lanes for others to follow.
“Mr. Haynes showed us what’s possible,” he said. “As a minority, you can own a school. You can lead. You can give back.”
And that is exactly what’s happening inside 432 Schuylkill Avenue every day: young people learning a craft, building a life, and carrying forward a legacy—one haircut at a time.
