‘Not a chop shop’: Sailor Bup’s Barbershop is more than a clean cut and a shave, opening in Kentville in August

Wilmot native Mark Peyton is bringing his business, Sailor Bup’s Barbershop, to Kentville’s Cornwallis Inn this August. Sailor Bup’s prides itself on offering so much more than just a haircut and a shave. Peyton says he wants people to embrace the culture that has been around barbershops for literally decades.

“Barbershops are good for your health,” says Peyton. “You look good, you feel good, you are around like-minded people, so good conversation is bound to happen.”

It’s never just a haircut or shave .

Children are treated no differently at Sailor Bup’s. Kids are young gentlemen in the making so they should be able to get a haircut and be treated like one, says Peyton, who makes parents sit down while their child is in the chair.

Peyton tells the story of a seven-year-old client in Halifax who comes in once a month and has had a new girlfriend every month since they first met.

“He likes to talk about it but doesn’t like talking about it around his parents,” says Peyton.

This illustrates how Sailor Bup’s is a community barbershop and how it plans on getting to know everyone.

Sailor Bup’s Barbershop originally started in Halifax, but now has a second store in Dartmouth and a third in Halifax that operates solely on walk-in appointments. Being from the Valley, Peyton always had the idea of opening a shop here, especially as he had a huge customer base that drives from the Valley to the city. He wanted to give them an extension of what the business does now in Halifax, but closer and more easily accessible to them.

Peyton said it was mind blowing to set up shop in Kentville. Original contact was made through community volunteer Tanya Owen, who created a Facebook page and other ads to encourage business in Kentville. Owen suggested some commercial units that were available and helped guide him through process . From there, Peyton met with those doing the renovations at the Cornwallis Inn.

“I got a little inside view of what that place is going to be like and I was blown away so I wanted to be part of it,” says Peyton.

The final step was the planning and permission through the Town of Kentville.

“The Town of Kentville is extremely pleased that Sailor Bup's has chosen to be in Kentville,” says Mayor Sandra Snow.  “The town and council have made every effort to encourage development and create and environment for young entrepreneurs to thrive.”

Sailor Bup’s Barbershop will open on Aug. 15 in the Cornwallis Inn ( up the stairs, first door on the right – Peyton says you will hear them). Watch for details of a big opening party, he said.

“We will be doing giveaways for a bunch of stuff, we are going to involve as many local businesses as we possibly can and make it a ton of fun,” says Peyton.

“We are not a chain, we are not a franchise and we are not a chop shop. We are a community barber.”