Middleboro barbershop thrives despite launching during COVID, eyes second location

MIDDLEBORO – One local man decided to start a business during COVID and took a giant leap of faith despite people telling him not to, leading him to launch Dustin's Barbershop in Middleboro.

Life has had many twists and turns for Dustin Travis, who always dreamt of being a boss without limitations.After attending Rob Roy Academy in 2012, Travis found his calling and decided to take it to the next level, which led him to open a barbershop inside a gym.

The space was small, but it was home to Travis for two years. The space abruptly closed after the owner died, and Travis had to figure something else out.

Where the dream begun

Travis only had a week's notice and told himself he had to "think bigger" and decided to look for a larger space to house the barbershop of his dreams.

The young entrepreneur took a giant leap and decided to take a risk with a monthly rent three times his original rent, but he knew it was time to make a change.

"So many people told Dustin not to do it, and they named too many reasons why he shouldn't, but he did it anyways and followed his dream," said Samantha Sullivan, Travis' fiancée.

Travis didn't take no for an answer and persevered through any issue that arose when he gutted the business.Now, the business has a modern look with grey hardwood floors, black barber chairs and artwork on the walls.

"I love cutting hair, and I love that I was blessed with this trade, and if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life," Travis said.

The barbershop was a labor of love, as the family had to completely renovate the space, which was once an unused dance studio located at 4 Abbey Lane Middleboro.

"I'm so proud of him. It's so scary to start your own business and take the step without anyone supporting you, and he did it all on his own. He didn't get help from anyone, and everyone was telling him not to open the shop, but he did it anyway. Now, we plan on opening a second location," Sullivan said.

At the shop, you can get the hair cut of your dreams. From fades to high tops to simple line-ups, Dustin's Barbershop has it all.

Alisha Saint-Ciel can be reached by email at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Middleboro Dustin's Barbershop eyes 2nd location after COVID launch