Grand Cliffs Salon

It will be nice to see that running again after sitting for a few years.  I think it needs a paint update though.

Yes, thank you. Awesome landmark. My father Leroy Backstrom took my brother Gary and myself to Cliff's for flatops, which were displayed in all photo's from childhood to the Beatles, at which time I became a "rebel w/out a cause" and refused the traditional buzzcut flatop. 

In 1968, my junior year at Morgan Park, I got called into the principals office and was told by him I could no longer avoid previous edicts to get my hair cut and would be suspended if not complying that day. I proferred a lie that we were poor and broke and therefor would be unable to comply with this ridiculous demand upon my coolness, whereupon His Pricipaledness handed me a buck and bus fare and told to march out the door out of the hallowed halls of Morgan Park, walk across the street (while he watched) to the bus stop in front of the Good Fellowship Club and go to Cliff's and get a "decent" haircut. Well I had a real good laugh while the DTA bus passed by Cliff's on my way to Bridgeman's Downtown for an ice cream cone! 

Signed - David "James Dean" Backstrom

I think Dave deserves some kind of award for that priceless comment on Duluth history.  I love Perfect Duluth Day.

But I want to know what happened when he went back to school with no buck and no haircut.

Grand Cliffs opened on Aug. 3. I just got a cut there today and met April and Emilie and they are quite nice. They didn't know Cliff, but wanted to carry on the history.

You can get the whole scoop about the place at grandcliffssalon.com.