Freddie Galvez gives customer Jose Escoto a haircut at ABC Barber Shop in Fresno. The business will give away free haircuts to new clients this weekend. Photo by Donald A. Promintz

Arturo Manzano and the other four members of his crew at ABC Barbershop on 3038 Tulare St. in Downtown Fresno will be giving away free haircuts for new clients throughout the weekend.

Manzano started out as a barber when he was 16, doing haircuts in his neighborhood in southwest Fresno. At almost 24, he’s already achieved his goal and now is running his own shop. Manzano said that this is his way of giving back to the community that’s supported him along the way.

“Our customers are part of certain communities—southwest Fresno, southeast Fresno—so we get a lot of support from them being weekly clients, or every-two-week clients,” Manzano said. “And then coming here out of all the barbershops that are in their neighborhood.”

The free haircuts will be on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. Manzano hopes to make this an annual event. This will also be just in time for students starting the new semester.

“And we know that kids are going back to school on Jan. 8, so we’re kind of doing it more for the kids, too,” Manzano said. “Just so they can go back to school with a nice, clean haircut.”