The art of the cut

New craft barber opens in Fairhope

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On the day Chuck Chavis was scheduled to host the grand opening of his craft barber shop in Fairhope the coronavirus shooed everyone indoors and locked the world up tight.

The month-long delay could have been disastrous for the brand new business.

But Chavis’ grand opening, 30 days later, was just perfect.

“The entire city of Fairhope needs a haircut, it is standing room only,” Chavis said of opening his doors the day restrictions were lifted. “I don’t even feel like a human we’ve been so busy.”

Chavis’ new shop, Father & Son’s Barber, located next to Little Caesar’s Pizza on South Greeno Road in Fairhope, is more than just chairs, mirrors and clippers. It is an experience.

The décor is vintage 1940s. The mirrors and tables are handcrafted from black pipe. Black fedora’s float above as vintage music winds its way through the brightly lit shop. Two robots made completely of pipe and topped off with more classic hats, greet visitors near the door.   

 Chavis, who hails from Pensacola and has lived in Baldwin County for the last 13 years, operated a shop in Foley for 11 years before moving to Fairhope. He has been cutting hair since he was 15, an occupation that for him, is an art form.

“It’s a craft. I love the smiles that it puts on people’s faces when I am finished and I get to see their face light up,” he said. “I like to make people look good and feel good about themselves. It’s rewarding for both of us.”

With lines still out the door, Chavis said the shop has moved to a maître d style of processing guests. Rather than standing in lengthy lines, visitors sign in and leave to go about their day. Chavis texts them 20 minutes before their chair is ready, assuring the shop adheres to social distancing guidelines.

“It’s really working out great,” he said.