SoKY’s Choice: JC’s Barber Shop Celebrates 76 Years With Shake Rag Heritage Festival Block Party

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – Music, food and family fun filled the Shake Rag community Saturday as JC’s Barber Shop marked 76 years in business with its second annual Heritage Festival block party.

The shop, founded in 1949 by Jimmy Carpenter, has remained on the same corner for decades, now serving as both a barbershop and a barber college. For owner Junius Carpenter, the anniversary is about more than a business milestone.

“It means a lot to our family, to just, kind of give back to the community and bring the community together,” Carpenter said. “We’re just so blessed, and thankful and humbled of the support over the same two, six years at the Shake Rag. Bowling Green, south central Kentucky area residents have been so good to our family, and so supportive of business.”

Carpenter said the family’s story began when his father left Kentucky in 1947 to attend barber school in Indiana, since no schools in the state admitted minorities at the time.

“That decision he made back in 1947 is the reason that we all here today, celebrate the 76 years and enjoying each other’s company, the good music and the good food,” Carpenter said.

The festival also featured scholarships for students pursuing barbering.

“And I feel so thankful, that they taught us giving. It’s not always about yourself, but when uplifting somebody else at times, and that’s. And that’s why we here today. Was able to award, two of the fellas. And we’ll be starting school next week,” Carpenter said.

For longtime residents, the shop represents more than just haircuts. “Mr. Carpenter, we used to call him Mr. Jimmy. He cut my hair as a little guy. So, I am integrally connected with him. I don’t know how I acted, you know, when he was cutting my [hair] off, you know, but, he’s a part of not only this area, but the spirit. His wisdom is still here with us,” said Dr. Don Offutt, a Black history educator.

Vendors also reflected on what the business means for the community. “Resilience. And I say resilience because they easily could have packed up and moved across town because these things get bigger. A lot of things, they start moving out towards, Scottsville Road, towards the mall. But they stayed here. Has to stay for for this community and for the people,” said Floena Spencer, owner of Spencer’s Sauce Injection. “And what I really like about this barbershop is that they give away free barber free haircuts. And that itself is a blessing to a lot of parents.”

Spencer added that the festival brought all ages together. “Fun, clean, fun. Wholesome for the family to come out. This is something that you don’t always get to do. Sometimes we got different age groups. We get kids all the way up to seniors, and I like to see that so that we all can mix and mingle together and just bring a lot of different types of people coming by,” she said.

Organizers say the block party will continue every year, honoring the barbershop’s role as a cornerstone of the Shake Rag community.