![Ryan Hardwick co-owns Black Cat Barbershop in Cleveland. Like many barbers across Ohio, he can't do his work amid coronavirus business closures. [Andrew Wells, courtesy Ryan Hardwick]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ac717f8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x674+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F4%2F08%2F0408hardwick.jpg)
Before Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered barbershops and hair salons closed, Black Cat Barbershop on Cleveland鈥檚 West Side wrestled with what do to do.
鈥淓very day was this weird tug of war, of like, 鈥楽hould we be open? Is it responsible to be open?鈥欌�� co-owner Ryan Hardwick said. 鈥淚t was heavy, it was heavy. I was glad he shut us down. To be honest, it was like, he did it for us. He made the decision for us. And I guess that鈥檚 really what we were waiting for.鈥�
Shops across the state have been dormant for more than two weeks now, shuttered along with many other businesses in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The closures have thrown Hardwick and other business owners into the economic wilderness. He鈥檚 had difficulty with the state鈥檚 unemployment system, and said that his claim has been denied. Now he鈥檚 looking for small business assistance.
The pandemic has also put a damper on Hardwick鈥檚 music. With bars and venues closed, his band, Last Gasp, can鈥檛 play shows. Hardwick, the band鈥檚 vocalist, is devoting some of his stay-at-home time to writing lyrics, he said.
He鈥檚 trying to remain hopeful. There鈥檚 now a message of encouragement posted on the shop window: 鈥淲e鈥檒l get through this together...while apart...humanity will prevail!鈥�
A hopeful message posted at Black Cat Barbershop in Cleveland. [Nick Castele / ideastream]
When Scissors Go Silent
At some point, with the barbershop shut down, my money will dry up. I don鈥檛 know man, it鈥檚 stressful, it really is.
I mean, the stimulus checks are going to be great. That $1200, I could probably pay all my bills for maybe a month.
So many people in Cleveland, so many friends of mine are struggling with these same issues. It鈥檚 not just me.
A lot of people have been hitting me up for haircuts, which is insane. I feel terrible, it鈥檚 like, believe me, I want to make money, I want to be cutting hair, this is crazy. But I think it鈥檚 just irresponsible at this point, you know?
Waiting To Rock Again
When I鈥檓 not on a government lockdown, I play in a punk rock band. And I鈥檝e been trying to write a lot. It鈥檚 funny, because I feel so tapped.
I鈥檝e never played the House of Blues before, and we were going to play the House of Blues in May, and now that鈥檚 canceled.
Woe is me to be bummed about a punk rock show being canceled鈥鈥檇 like to think the bigger picture is people are really out there in pretty terrible spots, so I can鈥檛 complain, you know?
