LUCI WELDON/The Warren File
KNK Barbershop’s Keith Alston, still left, presents David Richardson a haircut Friday morning.
LUCI WELDON/The Warren Record
Barbers ready to continue to keep KNK Barbershop clients searching their best are Keith Alston (seated), Stephen Shearin (again remaining) and Clinton Hightower. Not pictured: Christian Freeman and Pamela Burton.
If you move inside of KNK Barbershop in downtown Warrenton, the tune of “Shave and a Haircut” may possibly come to brain. That’s simply because Keith Alston and his workforce of barbers focus in supplying their purchasers an previous-fashioned barbershop expertise by offering facial shaves and haircuts in a welcoming atmosphere.
Alston, a Warren County indigenous, began slicing his personal hair in eighth grade. It was not much too prolonged in advance of he was cutting the hair of his grandfather and cousin.
“I generally wished to be a barber,” Alston mentioned. “I generally realized I preferred to be self-used. I understood that I could do it.”
Soon after graduating from Warren County Substantial University, there was no query about what profession path he would take. Alston concluded Harris Barber University in Raleigh, was certified, and began doing work at Refreshing Lower Barber Store.
Immediately after about 5 many years, Alston understood his desire of staying self-utilized. In 2001, he opened KNK Barbershop in the previous laundromat on Warrenton’s South Most important Street. He named the small business immediately after his young children, Ke’Shaun, Nihya and Keira.
Soon after about three many years, Alston moved his business to its current site on North Most important Avenue exactly where it retains the KNK title.
Now, KNK Barbershop consists of a group of barbers to satisfy the demands of everyone, individuals with all hair textures — adult men, ladies and children. That crew features Pamela Burton, Christian Freeman, Clinton Hightower and Stephen Shearin.
LUCI WELDON/The Warren Record
Keith Alston is pictured standing by the outdated-fashioned barbershop chair from Green’s Barbershop that has uncovered a area of honor at KNK Barbershop.
Alston introduced considerably of his barbershop tools and furnishings to the North Key Street locale. He extra an old-fashioned barbershop chair from Green’s Barbershop, one particular of the early barbershops in the county.
Alston and his crew want to supply shoppers with the outdated-fashioned barbershop knowledge, giving adult males facial shaves and haircuts. Females quit by for neckline trims and form-ups close to the ears. A lot of moms and dads convey in their kids for haircuts.
“I’ve seen a good deal of young ones,” Alston reported.
He has viewed these young children expand up to become dad and mom and take their youngsters to KNK Barbershop for haircuts.
That is just what Alston and his workforce of barbers want to see. Walk-ins are welcome. Clients can sit down in the barber’s chair for a haircut and get pleasure from a time of peace and superior dialogue.
“We have a ton of reminiscing,” Alston explained. “We take pleasure in talking. Folks appear listed here to find out what is occurring in Warren County.”
Clients appear from Warren and encompassing counties, Durham, Rocky Mount, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and other spots. The barbershop has come to be a beloved of holidaymakers in the regional region who want to see an aged-fashioned barbershop. It is also a common spot for Warren County residents who have moved away, but are returning household for a take a look at.
“If they know they are coming residence to Warrenton, they wait to arrive in this article instead of heading to the barbershop the place they reside,” Alston claimed.
Persons walking down Warrenton’s Main Street also halt by to say hi.
“All working day very long, people today halt in to say hey,” Alston reported. “It’s likely a single of the busiest stores in Warren County. It’s a revolving door.”
He is grateful for the option to understand his company dreams in his property county.
“It indicates a lot,” Alston reported. “I am capable to remain here and give back again to my county.”
KNK Barbershop, located at 113 N. Key St., Warrenton, is open up from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesdays by means of Fridays, and from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays. Wander-ins are welcome. For more data, get in touch with 252-432-5432.
