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The Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce recently held an official ribbon cutting and meet and greet for South Alabama Barbers Mafia.

The ribbon-cutting and meet and greet were held at 157 Interstate Drive next to the Big Potato Company.

Owners, Hughie and Meichele took visitors on a tour of the shop. During the tour, Atkison explained that he wanted the business to be all about family.

“When you’re here, you’re part of the family and will get treated as such,” Atkison said. “If you come and have some messed up hair, I’m going to joke with you about it. But at the end of the day, you come here and we’ll do you right and get your hair looking perfect.”

Besides centering the business around the concept of family, Atkison says he wants the business to be a safe place for children.

“If a child is in trouble and is being bullied or feeling threatened, they can come in here and get the help that they need,” Atkison said. “It doesn’t matter if they come in here to call the cops or to get some help finding a place to stay for a while so they can feel safe again. I’m all about protecting children. If you’re in trouble, you can come here and you will be safe. I got to do more than cut hair. Cutting hair doesn’t fill my soul. Helping people fills my soul.”

Although Atkison is the only master barber currently in the shop, he says he does want to find the right person to bring into the business.

“When I hire someone, I want to get someone in here that deserves a second chance,” Atkison said. “I want to find someone like an ex-con who made one mistake, went through the system, and is struggling to find a job. I want someone who I can train and help get their license so they can do this for a living instead of working minimum wage jobs their entire life because of one mistake.”

Besides being a barbershop, South Alabama Barbers Mafia also has a business division called Jewels Emporium that offers jewelry, belt buckles, and other trinkets to customers. They also provide customers waiting to get their haircut the chance to watch a movie and play video games while relaxing in one of their massage chairs.

South Alabama Barbers Mafia is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week. For more information about operation procedures and hours, call 334-368-1685.