On January 5th, 2025, North Adams and MCLA lost a pillar of our community. Christopher Barton, the long-time owner of Klipper Kingz Barber Co. on Eagle Street, passed away suddenly at the age of 51. Barton was open with clients about his love for his work, and took great pains to make every customer feel comfortable in his shop: requiring masks for the health and safety of all, as well as starting fresh with a crystal clean station for each client. Once seated in his chair, customers were usually treated to Barton singing along with the songs he knew the words to on the shop’s radio, and humming to the ones he didn’t, with a permanent smile on his face.
Barton, known to many as “Bigz”, got his start cutting hair for friends and family, but his natural talents were quickly apparent and he soon enrolled in school to make a career out of his skills. Barton commuted to barber school daily, driving more than an hour every day to accomplish his dream. After graduating top of his class, Barton finally opened his very own shop, taking over the space that was previously Norm’s Barbershop and adding his own flair, including the iconic logo on the front window, featuring two golden lions holding a crest with clippers in the middle. Klipper Kingz opened its doors in 2008 to great success, which continued through its years of operation.
Avani Richardson, ’25, had been going to Barton for his hair services since he was a freshman, here at MCLA. “He had always gone out of his way to make me feel comfortable and relaxed while in his presence,” Richardson reflected. “While there, we would talk about everything- from family to his newest song release, as he was a great rapper. He will truly be missed.”
Barton’s passing took the community by surprise; his untimely death was caused by a freak accident while he was working on a car.
Now, bunches of flowers adorn Barton’s styling chair, turned memorial, which faces out the main window. The scene echoes the empty space his passing leaves in the North Adams community; the loss of his energetic presence there—and his talents—are felt heavily by the many who once sat in his chair and shared in so many meaningful conversations with him. Members of the local community have taken to Facebook to share fond memories of Barton: their first haircuts, the generosity he gave to those who couldn’t afford it, and so many others. Emijah Barton, his 28-year-old daughter, told the Berkshire Eagle that her father had a big heart for everybody.
“He always wanted to make sure that kids who didn’t have a space, or didn’t have someone to look up to, could have a place or a mentor, he didn’t just have five kids, he had a whole town full of kids,” she reflected.
With Barton’s passing, the future of Klipper Kingz is uncertain but community members hope to see the shop stay up and running for years to come, in honor of his dedication to making the little storefront a welcoming, safe haven for anyone who stepped inside.
If you would like to help the Barton family during this difficult time, you can donate to their GoFundMe page, here.
