Noah Johnson Daily Press Chad Boudreau sees countless faces visit his shop each week, a shop that is closing at the end of the month.

ESCANABA — A local barbershop is closing its doors after being in business since 2014.

Boudreau’s Barber Shop will permanently close on June 27. The over 100-year-old building housed barbers since the 1960s, from Norms to Brents and to most recently, Boudreaus in 2014 when Chad Boudreau bought the business.

Recently, the building was sold and Boudreau’s lease was terminated. Boudreau was not bitter about the termination, saying he was given the opportunity to purchase the building but declined as it was not the right move for him. Additionally, he experienced difficulties finding help, leaving every aspect of the business up to Boudreau.

“The main reason why is because I just can’t find another person to work,” Boudreau said.

Part of the reason has to do with qualifications, not anybody can pick up a pair of scissors and become a barber – it requires 1,800 hours of training, an apprenticeship and capped off with the Michigan Barber Licensing Examination.

Boudreau emphasized that the closure has nothing to do with the clientele or the traffic – the shop still continues to do well each day.

“It’s busy, you know moving is not (about) the clientele or the amount of business coming in, it’s just basically because the building got sold.”

He estimated that roughly 20 or even more individuals come to his shop each day it’s open.

Loyal customers and friends of Boudreau are likely disappointed that their barber is moving on, but don’t fret, on certain days he will be only a mile and half away from his old stomping grounds.

Boudreau is still going to be wielding razors, sharpening blades and cutting hair – just not at Boudreau’s. Starting on July 1, Boudreau will be taking clients at Caswell’s Barbershop in Escanaba. He will also expand his chair, working at the Caswell’s Barbershop in Gladstone starting on July 2.

He will be at both shops throughout the week, barbering at the Escanaba location on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Gladstone residents can also see Boudreau at the Gladstone location on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Boudreau still gets to do what he loves, but saying goodbye is never easy.

“It’s kind of hard to leave you know, because I have been coming here this long,” he said.

“It’s the same place, you know, same customers which is nice. It will be different going somewhere else.”

He said that when he tells his customers of the impending closure, they’re shocked.

“Most of them are kinda surprised because there has been a shop here since 1968 as far as I know,” Boudreau said.

“There are still some customers that have been coming in since 1968.”

Boudreau said he got into barbering because he loves talking to people and building relationships with his clients. Even though he is moving on from Boudreaus, he still wants to take care of his customers by accepting gift certificates even after the shop closes.

“I’ll still honor them. Anything that I donated or that people bought as gift certificates.”

Boudreau is accepting past gift certificates at both Caswell locations, but only through him and not the other barbers.

Boudreau expressed his gratitude to the community for their patronage over the years, including their loyalty.

“There’s a lot of loyal customers I have (gotten) through the years,” Boudreau said.

“There’s still customers I have from day one that still come in here.”

Those who want to return to Boudreau’s chair can visit him at Caswells at the Escanaba location on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Gladstone customers can visit Boudreau on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Caswells in Escanaba is located at 1510 Sheridan Road and the Gladstone location is located at 905 Delta Avenue.