By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – Patrons of The Barber Shop will receive more than a haircut when they sit in owner Faye Pray’s chair.

“It’s just an old-fashioned barber shop,” Pray said July 5, her first day of business in Chelsea. “We’re going to have fun.”

In her 1,200-square-foot space, Pray and fellow barber Larry Barton will provide haircuts, shaves and shampoos for customers, who may enjoy a cold Coke as they converse during their cuts.

“There’s not another barber shop in Chelsea,” Pray said. “We know how to do every kind of haircut.”

“We don’t do ugly haircuts,” Barton said, laughing. “I have worked in a lot of shops over the years, and this is first-class.”

Pray has been a barber for 40 years, and Barton has been one since he was 16 years old.

Pray’s motivation to open The Barber Shop, her first shop, came from her desire to make her own rules in the business.

“I’ve been doing this for a real long time,” she said. “I just started getting tired of working for other people.”

With four chairs and ample hours every day except Sunday to service customers, Faye and Barton will help men and children, boys and girls, with any haircut they need.

Men’s haircuts are $17, or $27 with a shave, and haircuts for kids 8 years old and under are $15 each.

In addition to beverages, the shop has suckers and popsicles for kids, and free Wi-Fi.

Contributing to the old-fashioned feel of the shop is a 1940s barber pole on the outside wall and a green barber chair inside. The vintage items were owned by Theresa Moore’s uncle, the late Reg Weldon, who had a business in Birmingham before he moved to Miami, Fla.

Pray is friends with the family, who owned and operated the old Weldon Store near Chelsea City Hall.

Pray said the chair still works, and she plans to have it recovered in the same green color someday.

“I want to cut the family’s hair in that chair,” she said.

South Shelby Chamber of Commerce Executive Director April Stone congratulated Pray on the new business venture at a ribbon cutting ceremony July 5.

Mayor Earl Niven led a prayer to bless the shop.

“We are proud that you’re here,” Niven said to Pray. “This is a great family city. Just provide the service, and I think you’ll be very successful.”

The Barber Shop is open for walk-ins Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Appointments can be made by calling 603-6323.

The Barber Shop is located at 10699 Old U.S. 280, Building 5, Suite 8 in Chelsea.