To those needing a fresh haircut, line-up or new style, look no further than the south Lawrence Walmart.
Watson’s Barbershop relocated to Walmart Supercenter at 3300 Iowa St. in May, joining a small number of barbershops operating inside Walmart stores in the U.S.
“Just the feel of being in a big store like this for the first time as a barbershop is really exciting — to be the one of the first,” owner Marty Watson said. “Now let’s get to work.”
A staple Black-owned shop in Lawrence, Watson’s Barbershop was previously housed in the Hillcrest Shopping Center. Watson, Jermaine “Gametime” Jackson, Tim “Nelly” Nelson and other local barbers have built the business up over its 18 years of existence.
To get there was a long process, but he and his team weren’t alone; family members, friends and mentors lent their support, most notably on the business and finance sides. It takes a village, he said.
“People really stepped in without being asked,” Watson said. “It’s a community thing. They saw a need to fill in the void, so we were blessed. It just feel good that my community believes in me. And I believe in my community. Without them, it doesn’t happen.”
The Hillcrest Shopping Center shop is now closed and signage on the door redirects folks to the new spot. Regular clients have easily found their way around, and walk-ins are starting to pick up, too, Watson said as four barber chairs were filled and other customers drifted in Friday morning.
Watson’s Barbershop is open noon to 6 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. It’s closed on Sundays.
Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments can be made by calling 785-312-0928.
For more information, visit Watson’s Barbershop’s website, watsonsbarbershop.com.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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