Even though he lives and works in Charlotte, Huffman returns to Salisbury periodically to call on clients, eat the town’s barbecue and get his hair cut at John and Darren Hipp’s College Inn Barber Shop.

Huffman has been getting his hair cut here since he was 6 years old. Huffman’s routine changed a bit Wednesday when he sat down in the chair at the Hipps’ new barber shop, just a couple of doors away from the old place on West Innes Street.

For the first time in 38 years, John Hipp is cutting hair in a different building, a renovated house that used to belong to a palm reader and a group home. Before the Hipps bought and completely remodeled it, the house had sat idle for about four years.

“I like it,” Huffman said. “Everything has to change these days. ... This is a premium place. They’re moving on up — like the Jeffersons.”

Huffman said he saw three advantages to the new location: better parking, a shade tree out front and a location so close to the old place that they won’t lose any customers.

“One thing I like, though, is that they’ve lowered the prices,” customer Jim Linn piped in from Darren’s chair.

There’s always some kidding at the College Inn Barber Shop. The price remains $9 per haircut; for senior citizens, $8.

Compared to the old place, darkened by its paneling and many wall tributes to Duke University basketball, the new digs are a palace. Sunlight streams in the front and side windows, giving even more brightness to the white walls and refinished wood floors.

What used to be the home’s living room now holds the three barber chairs, sinks, cabinets, hair products and three large mirrors, making the room feel even more spacious.

It opens up to a waiting room — formerly a dining room and kitchen — that has 13 chairs and artwork for sale on the newly painted walls. It also includes a small snack area.

Darren Hipp said “the old building was good to us,” but he and his father haven’t really had time to be sentimental.

“We’ve done so much work over here that you feel like you belong,” John Hipp said.

After receiving a rezoning that would allow the needed parking, the Hipps started remodeling the house last September. It became a family affair. John’s brothers, Harry and George, and nephew Alan put in some long hours with John and Darren.

“If it hadn’t been for them, we still wouldn’t be here,” John says.

Fearing that their old rented location was destined to fall victim to an eventual redevelopment of that whole corner on West Innes Street and Mahaley Avenue, the Hipps began looking a long time ago for a possible new location near Catawba College. The pieces just seemed to come together on this particular house, which was on the same side of the street and within a glance of the old barber shop.

“It’s like God meant for us to be here,” John says.

Customers have had no problem making the adjustment, either. A cardboard sign in the old shop’s window points to the new location up the street.

“A lot of them have known it for awhile, but we had no set date,” John said.

The first day at the new shop finally came Tuesday. John Hipp arrived earlier than usual that morning, anxious about everything’s going all right. Wade Myers Sr. was the first person to pull into the old place.

“I told him, ‘Wrong place, Wade. Come on over,’” John recalls.

Salisbury Fire Chief Sam Brady was next, getting his usual flat top. Fireman Mark Thompson soon followed. Mac Butner and his son, Wade, came later.

John Hipp joined Dwight Williams at College Inn Barber Shop in December 1962 and they stayed in business together for several years at the old location, 1910 W. Innes St.

A young Darren quickly tired of the construction business, went to barber school and joined his father 18 years ago. Jesse Link, a West Rowan High product and former Mooresville American Legion baseball player, mans the third barber chair these days.

On working with his father for so long, Darren said he “probably wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Sometimes the pair can work side by side all day but find they still have to call each other at night because they didn’t have a chance to talk about something.

“We have a good time,” Darren says. “If we have any problems, we can just talk about them.”

On his stop at the new barber shop Tuesday, Butner gave the Hipps grief about the fancy artwork on the walls and said all they needed to complete the decorating was some Oriental rugs.

“Nothing but the best for our customers,” Darren said later Wednesday afternoon.

“Wait a minute, let me put my feet up,” Huffman said from his chair.

There’s always some kidding at the College Inn Barber Shop.