Where Is Ron the Barber Now?
After nearly half a century of trimming hair and trading stories in downtown Cloverdale, Ron Waugh — better known as Ron the Barber — has quietly closed the doors to his longtime shop.
Ron’s Barber Stylists on 176th Street shut down in early September after 49 years of business, marking the end of an era for a space that’s been home to barbers for more than six decades.
Ron told the Cloverdale Reporter earlier that his lease was up and the landlord planned major renovations — the first in decades. He hoped to return, but the post-reno rent proved unaffordable. Since then, locals have been wondering: where is Ron now?
Community members have flooded local media with messages of appreciation and nostalgia. Resident Rick Wilson shared how Ron’s became his go-to barbershop when he moved to Cloverdale years ago. “Someone buys the building, renovates, and rents go up — small businesses can’t keep up,” he said, lamenting how the town’s landscape is changing.
With the closure of landmarks like Fraser Downs Racetrack and uncertainty around the B.C. Truck Museum, Wilson fears Cloverdale’s small-town charm may fade. “I don’t think we’ll recognize it five years from now,” he said.
Another lifelong resident, Walter van Halst, recalled how his late father took him and his brother to Ron’s for their first haircuts in the 1970s. “Ron became a family friend, not just a barber,” he said. “The same stool he used for my brother back then was still there. Even the mirror and the old-school wastebasket never changed.”
Van Halst compared Ron to “Larry King from The King of Kensington — a friend to everyone.”
Many others, including Larene and Gwen, have written in looking for Ron, hoping he might still be cutting hair or making house calls. Their parents and friends have been Ron’s loyal clients for decades.
Dozens of readers have reached out to share memories of the familiar shop with its rodeo-themed logo and sports memorabilia-filled walls.
Anyone with information about Ron’s new location — or how to contact him — is invited to reach out to Cloverdale Reporter at editor@cloverdalereporter.com or call 605-575-2400.
