Rubens Gets Trimmed at Lucky's in Concord

On a recent campaign swing through the capital city, former state Sen. Jim Rubens stopped in at Lucky’s Barbershop & Shave Parlor in Concord for a quick trim and a discussion about the issues of the day.

Rubens said he realized that he was more than due for a cut and since he was in Concord anyway, he decided to stop by.

After putting his name on the waiting list on the wall, Rubens introduced himself to others waiting for cuts including a young man who was getting a cut for an upcoming job interview, a local musician, a real estate agent who brought her son in for a spring trim, and a veteran who had recently returned from serving overseas.

Ian Bergeron, one of the barbers at the parlor, took care of Rubens while the two talked shop.

When asked what Rubens would do if elected to help out small businesses like Lucky’s, he said that looking a regulatory reform would be one step. He added that the federal government was geared to assisting large businesses that could afford $1,000 an hour lawyers to wade through regulations, fees, and the overall structure of doing business. Rubens added that small businesses needed to focus on their customers instead of regulatory structures noting that they were the only businesses hiring and the lifeblood of the country.

“Big corporations aren’t hiring,” he said. “They’re basic stagnant in hiring.”

Rubens also spoke about his own experience forming a number of business over the years. 

Owner Josh Craggy chimed in agreeing with Rubens.

“You can go to any community you know or you don’t know and travel to the downtown areas and what you see are the small businesses,” Craggy said. “It’s a part of the community.”

“That’s right,” Rubens agreed. “It’s the hub of the community. Chain stores don’t have that kind of relationship with their towns. A town doesn’t feel like a town if it’s all full of chain stores.”

After the cut, Rubens paid and tipped Bergeron, saying he did a great job. 

Outside, Rubens added that the place had “soul” and it was businesses like Lucky’s that helped make the world go ‘round. At the same time, Rubens said he feared federal laws like the Affordable Care Act that would make small businesses like Lucky’s more difficult to start up and run.

“We have to be careful in this country that we don’t have big government squash this kind of business,” Rubens said.