Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Cody Greenburg's Anvil Barber Co. reopens after a truck crash in June.
- Greenburg suffered knee injuries but is now 80-85% recovered and back to work.
- A grand reopening is set for Oct. 11, supported by community donations and efforts.
AMERICAN FORK — Inside the Anvil Barber Co. in American Fork, the sound of clippers is back.
But for Cody Greenburg, the owner, it's not the buzz of the clippers he missed the most these past few months; it was the buzz of conversation.
"So, we went with a little bit lighter of a wood," said Greenburg, laughing with a client in his freshly remodeled shop. He can talk about anything with his clients, from remodeling to family to even the British monarchy.
"They just hang out and collect tax money," he laughed with a client. But these days, all his clients really want to talk about is him and what he's doing after that crash.
"It's like, 'Wow, did that really happen?' It's like, 'Yeah, it really did,'" said Greenburg.
This past June, a pickup truck crashed through Greenburg's barbershop. It left a hole in the front wall and damaged a lot of the items inside the shop. The truck also hit Greenburg and a man he was giving a haircut to. Greenburg got the worst of it.
"Yeah, I had a torn MCL, a torn ACL and some of my meniscus got torn," he said. He has been through plenty of rehab but is feeling a lot better now.
"I've been telling people that I'm at, like, 80-85% on my knee," he said. "I don't need crutches anymore. I don't need a brace anymore."
The shop itself needed some healing, too.
"We had to replace this window and the wall and try to match brick," he said. "We had to redo the flooring. We had to get new barber chairs and mirrors."
Greenburg reopened his shop quietly a couple of weeks ago to test how it would feel being back on his feet all day.
Now, he's ready to officially welcome the public again.
A grand reopening celebration is planned for Saturday, Oct. 11, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at his shop.
"Tomorrow, we're going to have some food and generally just hang out, kind of letting everybody know, 'Hey, we're back. Come check out the shop,'" Greenburg said.
He credits his recovery and the rebuilding to the support he has received from the community.
A GoFundMe organized in the days after the crash helped cover bills before insurance kicked in.
It really helped because his wife had surgery just a few days before the crash and they were both out of work for a little bit.
"We're so grateful for the community that helped us get through that first month," he said. "People really do step up and say, 'Hey, I can give a little bit.' So, you just have to pay that forward again."
The customer who was injured is doing better, as well.
At the time of the crash, police said the driver mistakenly hit the gas pedal instead of the brake as he was parking in the lot.
Now, with his clippers in hand and laughter once again filling the shop, Greenburg said he's just thankful for how it all turned out.
"I'm just grateful that it was what it was, and that I've been able to heal as well as I have. It could have been a lot worse," he said.
As for whether he worries about something like that happening again?
"I mean, what's the likelihood that it happens twice, right? Knock on wood," he said, tapping a wooden table and smiling. "Right?"
