The Chicago Traveler

Released in 2002, BarberShop revolves around the customers and employees of a barbershop on the south side of Chicago. This old-fashioned business is much more than a place where men get their hair cut though; it is a staple of the neighborhood and a place where people meet and share ideas, no matter how serious or preposterous they may be.

Calvin Palmer, Jr., (Ice Cube) is tired of managing the failing business his father entrusted to him. Unable to make the necessary payments and with big dreams in his eyes, he sells the shop to shady loan shark Lester Wallace (Keith David). Calvin assumed that Wallace would keep the shop open, but the greedy 'businessman' has got other plans: a barbershop-themed strip club.

Depressed and doubtful, Calvin talks with his pregnant wife Jennifer (Jazsmin Lewis) and spends a long eye-opening day at work with his fellow barbers: Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer), an older gent with his own unique perspective of Black culture; Jimmy (Sean Patrick Thomas), a snooty college grad; Isaac (Troy Garity, son of Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden), the only White guy in the shop; Dinka (Leonard Earl Howze), an African immigrant trying to woo his crush; Ricky (Michael Ealy), a reformed criminal; and Terri (Eve), a temperamental young woman and the object of Dinka's affection. Calvin finally learns to value what he has and tries to get his shop back from Lester. However, Wallace will only sell it to Calvin for twice the money he had paid him' and he wants the money before the end of the day. Broke and in debt, Calvin doesn't stand much of a chance at keeping his heritage alive.

Barbershop was filmed in Chicago during the winter of 2001. The filmmakers used a storefront that was once a laundromat to build the set for Calvin's business. Several scenes were shot at the intersection of East 79^th and Exchange Streets on Chicago's south side. The story continued in the sequel Barbershop 2: Back in Business (which was also filmed in Chicago) and inspired the spin-off flick Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah.