Barber Shops Remain Closed

Governor Bill Lee’s order to begin reopening Tennessee’s economy did not include barber shops or beauty salons.

Jonathan A.D. Williams owns Veterans Barber Shop in Cookeville.

“I am certainly disappointed that barber shops and hair salons can’t reopen,” Williams said. “I am a barber, and this directs me personally. I don’t envy the governor’s position. He has a lot of decisions to make, and he’s getting advice from all corners of the state, and he’s doing the best he can.”

Governor Lee announced a plan Friday to reopen restaurants on Monday, followed by some segments of retail on Wednesday next week.

Williams said small businesses are suffering from the shutdown.

“Self-employed people have taken a big hit with all these closures,” Williams said. “We’re having the hardest time getting through the unemployment red tape. Some of us are taking a long time to get stimulus checks. So, this really does hit us hard. The longer we stay closed, the more likely it is that some people will have to get out of the business.”

Nonessential businesses in Tennessee have been closed Governor Lee signed Executive Order 22 on March 30.

Williams said he is ready to open as soon as the governor gives the order.

“Even before the shutdown, we really stepped up our sanitization above and beyond what the state was asking for,” Williams said. “We were lysoling our chairs on a daily basis. We were even spraying down the waiting chairs and asking people to wait outside if we got too busy. We were trying not to get into people’s faces when we were providing services. We were already taking precautions. Even now we have masks in the event we have the ability to open. I’m ready to open tomorrow if he’ll let me.”

Williams said the only advice he had for business owners still waiting to reopen is to be as safe as they can and to hold on as long as they can.