Barber moves his shop outside to cut disabled man's hair


Earlier this week, Victor Burgos was working at a barber shop, when he noticed a man outside in an electric wheelchair.

When he received a phone call and heard an electronically assisted voice ask if he had an opening, he realised it was coming from the man outside and that he was looking for a cut.

Unfortunately, Joe’s Upscale Barber Shop is located in an older building in Webster, New York, which means it hasn’t yet been made wheelchair accessible.

Mr Burgos, who has worked at the shop for three and a half years, and two other barbers knew that it would not be possible to get the wheelchair and the man inside.

But Mr Burgos was not deterred. He saw a man who was in need of grooming, and he grabbed his tools and set up shop outside.

Mr Burgos set up outside the barber shop as he knew it would not be possible to get the wheelchair inside the old building. Source: Joe Cocozza/ Facebook
Mr Burgos set up outside the barber shop as he knew it would not be possible to get the wheelchair inside the old building. Source: Joe Cocozza/ Facebook

“We weren’t going to be able to get this heavy duty thing in here so I took my cordless barber clippers, trimmers, shavers, and sheers, straight blade, comb — everything I need to give him the same haircut that he’d get if he came inside,” Mr Burgos told Inside Edition.

While absorbed in his work, Mr Burgos didn’t even realise his photo was being taken.

“He definitely needed a haircut,” Mr Burgos said.

“It looked like he hadn’t had a haircut in about a month. It was pretty shaggy [and] I know how good it feels to get that weight off of you.

“I could tell that he’s never had a good experience. I could tell without even asking him, and I just wanted to change it for him.”

The barber went outside to give the man a haircut as the store is not wheelchair accessible. Source: Joe Cocozza
The barber went outside to give the man a haircut as the store is not wheelchair accessible. Source: Joe Cocozza

Mr Burgos’s skills and kindness earned him plenty of praise.

The man was so pleased with his haircut that he sent his aide to go to the shop to get his own hair cut.

On top of that, the shop’s owner Joe Cocozza shared the moment on Facebook.

I couldn’t be happier when I was told this story. I couldn’t be happier to work and know a person of such kind nature as Victor… He did not have to do this,” Mr Cocozza wrote.

“Vic is one of our busiest barbers and is always busy. So Vic thank you for being that [guy] and not only always proving what type of person you are but also being a CLASS ACT.”

The community, which is located near Rochester, was so moved by the barber’s professionalism, they’re rallying together to help provide the business with a wheelchair ramp.

For now, Mr Burgos doesn’t mind stepping outside whenever the customer needs a touch-up.

The shop’s owner shared the story and pictures on social media, calling his employee a “class act”. Source: Joe Cocozza/ Facebook
The shop’s owner shared the story and pictures on social media, calling his employee a “class act”. Source: Joe Cocozza/ Facebook