On November 9, 1969, Bill Murphy opened Bill's Barbershop on Main Street in Belleville. Haircuts cost $2. Almost 52 years later, haircuts are $10 and, as of July 3, Bill retired and put his clippers and scissors away.

Bill isn't the first to admit that COVID-19 changed things.

"It knocked the wheels out from under my business," said Bill, and added that he had hoped to make it 55 years. "During the pandemic, one week I'd be incredibly busy and the next, not one customer. The uncertainty took a toll."

Another determining factor was that the people who rent the other part of the residence...