New owner will reopen Mount Vernon barber shop

MOUNT VERNON, Ind. (AP) - It seemed like the end of an era for Mount Vernon when barber Steve Burris retired and closed his downtown shop in January, but Todd Burnett saw it as an opportunity.

"That corner at 200 Main St. is a landmark of barbering history in my hometown. I'm not willing to let that die out. So now is the time for me to start a new chapter in life," he said.

Although he currently lives in Evansville, where he has been teaching barbering at Rogers Academy, Burnett was born and raised in Mount Vernon.

"It's always been a dream to own my own barber shop and really be able to bring back the art form of barbering to the area," he said.

Burnett said he plans to renovate and update the space at the corner of Second and Main streets and add a few new services. He hopes to have The Fox - Barber and Grooming Lounge open by the end of March, with Tuesday-Saturday hours.

"I want it to be a space where guys of all ages can come, unwind, get a great haircut, beard groom or a hot towel straight razor shave," he said.

One thing that won't change, Burnett said, will be the price of a haircut.

"I don't want Steve's regulars to worry that prices are going to jump. I'm here to carry on and at the same time bring something new and fresh," he said.

Burnett said he wants to continue the legacy of local barber shops in Mount Vernon, something that otherwise would have died out with Burris' retirement.

"I have been raised around the hair industry my entire life. My grandmother had a shop when I was a kid," Burnett said.

While the shop will continue to have two barber chairs, like Burris did before him, Burnett said he doesn't plan to hire extra help.

"For right now it will just be me. I want to take this time and reconnect with my hometown guests, get to know them and them get to know me. If in the future we need to add another barber, I will have the space," he said.

The barber shop's location midway between the Posey County court house and the town's renovated riverfront puts it at the heart of downtown. Burnett said he is hoping his concept of a shop offering old-school barbering with a modern flair will contribute to Mount Vernon's regeneration.

"I'm very excited about the changes in the community. I want it to be a place that's always inviting and welcoming to the community of men of all ages in Posey County," he said. "Mount Vernon is a strong and beautiful community of people.

"I am excited to build on the tradition of barbering that has been here for so long, as well as take it to a new level that will hopefully engage our community to spend more time downtown and maybe lead others to open up their dream business here in Mount Vernon."

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Source: Evansville Courier & Press, http://bit.ly/2nbren9

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com