Community surprises Jerri Heacock with 20-year work-anniversary celebration By Marie Muir
Jerri Heacock always shows up on time for work at East Cobb Barbershop in Merchants Festival Shopping Center. But on Saturday, Sept. 16, for the first time in 20 years, she was greeted at the door by a line of regulars holding roses. Jerri had an inkling that her “work wife” Dee Reitz, owner of East Cobb Barbershop, was planning a 20-year work-anniversary surprise. And yet, she was still shocked by the community’s love poured out over her in the form of cupcakes, cards, flowers and gifts.
Dee, originally from New Mexico, worked at Dobbins Air Reserve Base for two years before buying the barbershop from Raymond Zylstra in 2000. The original storefront, established by Ray in 1986, was torn down to build a parking deck and moved exactly 156 footsteps away within the same shopping center in 2006. Today, red church pews line one side of East Cobb Barbershop and every wall of the 600-square-foot space is adorned by vintage American military and barber memorabilia.
Like their customers, every piece of decor in East Cobb Barbershop has a story to tell. Jerri and Dee have witnessed hundreds of hairstyles over their decade-long careers, but they still specialize in classic cuts such as flat tops, fades, business man’s cuts and tapers.
Lisa Owen and Matt Crawford complete the East Cobb Barbershop team. Matt was drawn to East Cobb Barbershop because it reminded him of the oldest barbershop in Georgia – Little Gem Barber Shop in Carrollton, which was founded by his family in 1895.
East Cobb Barbershop is open for appointments and walk-ins from 9:30am to 5pm Tuesday-Friday and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. From newborns to 96-year old veterans, the team humbly serves all.
