Get your cut on: Barber returns to the Village

Sitting by Village Green Records for the past three weeks is a beat-up 1970 GMC Step Van surrounded by a makeshift picket fence and an ensemble of orange and pale green waiting-area chairs. The former owner of Campus Cuts, Algier Williamson, calls this place his ideal business location.

"I love it," Williamson said. "It's like I'm on vacation everyday. I call this the getaway."

Before the Village became the van's home, it sat in a repair shop in Indianapolis for a year and a half before the owners finally decided to sell it to Williamson three months ago. Throughout the summer, he worked on fixing up the van so he could use it for his business.

It may seem strange to have a haircutting business in a van, but Travis Harvey, owner of VGR, said he thinks Williamson's business is a one-of-a-kind head turner, something essential to this area.

"I think what Algier offers as an independent business is something the community needs more of," Harvey said.

Another business in the Village is appreciative of Williamson, but in a very different way. Because of Williamson's frequent visits in the past, Pita Pit has a pita named after the barber. Michael Monroe, a manager at the Pita Pit, said he is appreciative of the fact that Williamson is back and in business.

"I already had him cut my hair once, so I'm kind of happy about it," Monroe said.

The experience has been ideal for Williamson so far. He said that there are more sights and sounds now, and he feels much more free working from the van than at his previous location. He likes what he's doing, where he's doing it and believes it's the perfect setup for him.

His dream started 12 years ago when he began cutting his own hair with his dad's clippers. He even tried to get his brother to let him cut his hair, but his brother wanted money for the service rather than paying for it.

Williamson said he does not feel as if he's cutting clients' hair but that he's cutting his friends' hair. During his three years of experience at Campus Cuts, he said that he got to know the community, and now that he's back, the community knows him.

"There's nothing too serious about it," Williamson said.

Despite his customer flow, that's true. Williamson has been back for three weeks now and said he's already been busy. That's surprising when he said he hasn't even been trying to get customers yet. He may have gone from a 1,000-square-foot space to a van with 60 square feet, but nothing in Williamson's attitude toward his business has changed.

Scott Hartman, a first-time customer and employee at the Indiana Academy, was recommended to Williamson by a coworker. He had never had his hair cut by anyone but his sister before his visit.

"I wouldn't go to just any barber," Hartman said.

Hartman was impressed by the setup and the personal attention offered by Williamson, saying that VGR embodies much the same attitude.

The business is not all that new for Williamson, but he had planned to move to California last year. When his plans changed, he returned to Muncie, this time cutting hair out of his van.

Despite the change of scenery, Williamson is happy with the new venture.

"There's a closer connection here," Williamson said.

Harvey and Williamson are good friends, and he made the decision to allow Williamson's van on VGR's property. Harvey said he was sad and disappointed when Williamson left last year because he feels that Williamson is a significant part of the Muncie community. When Williamson came back, the record store was the first place he went.

"Any opportunity to have Algier back is wonderful," Harvey said.

Although Williamson has no plans for how long he'll be staying in his tin-paneled van, Harvey will let Williamson stay as long as he wants. Williamson said he's in no rush to go anywhere else.

"I'm all about taking my time," Williamson said.

Williamson's dream is to eventually build another level on top of his van. He also wants to be cutting hair on the beach in California. However, he's OK with being in Muncie to build up his portfolio and be close to friends and family.

"This is part of my dream," Williamson said. "This is the next step to my dream."

Check out a gallery of Algier Williamson: http://www.bsudailynews.com/photo-gallery-algier-williamson-1.2321793