PARIS, Ky. — For over 40 years, Akemon's Barber shop in Paris has given its customers more than just a haircut. Musicians come in and entertain the customers with bluegrass tunes throughout their appointment.
What You Need To Know
- Akemon's Barbershop offers plenty of entertainment for customers
- Customers listen to Bluegrass tunes throughout their appointment
- After around 40 years, customers feel like family
- Musicians come in a couple days a week
From the moment you step into Akemon’s Barber Shop, you’re in for more than just a haircut. Joe Akemon, the owner of the shop, plays bluegrass tunes with his fellow musicians in between appointments.
“Well the reaction we get is usually when they're playing and this is all going good. I have a hard time keeping the customer still. They want to wiggle around in the chair because they get it, they do a pretty good job and then they get kind of mousing around. Sometimes it's hard to do their hair right,” Akemon said.
Akemon's Barber Shop in Paris has been around for the past 40 years. He says after cutting hair for generations, his customers are more than just paying clients.
“It’s kinda like we get a kin to them like, you feel like family,” Akemon said.
Akemon's sidekicks, Tim, Patrick and Chilly have been coming down to the shop for years – giving customers an experience like never before.
“I've been coming down here, often now with these guys for probably 17-18 years. And it's just a lot of fun and we enjoyed doing it and like I say it's like family at least as long as they don't want to borrow money,” Chilly Cox said.
Tim Hazelbaker said they enjoy coming together throughout the week and entertaining the customers, giving back to bourbon county in a positive way.
“When you play bluegrass music with a bunch other fellers you share just a little bit of your soul with them, and they become really good friends over the years and it's kind of worth the drive to come up and play music with the musicians we've been playing music together for a long time,” Hazelbaker said.
The musicians play inside the Barber Shop most days throughout the week. The owner also sells instruments and gives guitar lessons after the barbershop closes for the day.