Now that the UCI Road World Championships are over, the jury is still out for smaller local businesses that dart along broad street.
In a tale of two barber shops on the same corner, two barbers have mixed opinions.
Kendric Lawfton of McCormick’s Progressive BarberShop said the races hurt his business.
“It was terrible,” Lawfton said. “They have a tent right here lined up so even if you wanted to go to the pawn shop to get a haircut you couldn’t see it if you aren’t on this side of the street.”
Meanwhile, Brian Ashford is a barber who works on an opposite corner. He approached the races differently.
“It was give and take because they didn’t come out at first, but once you went out and talk to them and shook hands and invited them and then they felt more comfortable patronizing whatever business you have,” said Ashford.
Ashford said he gave haircuts to at least ten people who were involved in the race some from Kenya and Italy.
Lawfton said he had one customer from Kenya.
