A former family-run greengrocers, which was part of a town for four decades, has been replaced with a sixth barbershop.
Benbows on Fakenham’s Market Place closed its doors in February, 46 years after first opening in 1980.
The building had since stood empty – but now Adem Emre has taken over, running it with his team as Fakenham Gents Barbers.
Fakenham Gents Barbers has opened today in the town centre. Picture: Lizzie Hobbs
Open today, it is the sixth barbershop in the town centre.
“Barbering isn’t just my job – it’s something I’ve genuinely loved for many years,” Mr Emre said.
“The first time I visited Fakenham, I really liked the town and the friendly people. It felt like the kind of town where people still stop to say hello.
Benbows opened in the town in 1980 and closed earlier this year. Picture: Google Maps
“Then I found this shop, and I honestly couldn’t believe it had been empty for nearly four months.
“The moment I saw it, I knew this was where my team and I wanted to build something special.”
He explained that he had been running his own private studio in Norwich, and had built up a loyal client base – including a number of individuals from Fakenham – which gave him the confidence to set up shop in the town.
“We’ve put a lot of time, care and passion into every detail,” Mr Emre added.
“Every barber station has been custom-built to my own design, and we’ve chosen one of the finest and most comfortable barber chairs available to make every visit feel that little bit more special.
“A few people stopped while we were renovating just to say hello or wish us good luck.
“Those small conversations really meant a lot to us, so we surprised a few of them with a complimentary haircut as a thank you.”
The business accepts walk-ins and offers a number of services from regular cuts and fades to face masks, waxing and even ASMR haircuts which trigger sensory responses through sound.