Potts Barber Shop

Feb. 18. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius commissioners honored the Potts Barber Shop, a mainstay of downtown for decades, at the Town Board meeting Monday. Dating back to 1926. it is the oldest Black-owned business in Cornelius.

The Potts family opened up their shop at the current location in 1960. In 2022, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission designated the “new” location an official landmark.

Mayor Woody Washam noted with a smile that “a lot of key town decisions have been made over the years at Potts. If it’s going on in this town, they’re going to know about it!”

Mickey Potts, with historic plaque

Owner Mickey Potts is the husband of the late Nannie Potts the first Black mayor of Cornelius.

The commissioners also:

—Approved the purchase of seven Dodge Durangos from Ilderton Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of High Point at a cost of $293,995. The SUVs will be utilized as both patrol vehicles and administrative vehicles, according to Police Chief David Baucom.

—Ratified a $239,000 contract addition with Musco Sports Lighting LLC of Oskaloosa Iowa, for $239,000 to add lights for six additional tennis courts, bringing the total to twelve lighted courts for Cornelius.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission photo

The original contract, which included lighting for only six tennis courts, was approved by the Board of Commissioners last August.