Longtime Fort Worth barbershop shuts its doors

The barber’s pole revolved slowly, unaware that it’s unemployed.

Once a colorful beacon to the barbershop inside, the pole has been reduced to an ornament on the Sinclair Building.

The Shelton Givens Barber Shop — in Room 112 at 512 Main St. — closed last week after a 25-year run in downtown Fort Worth.

The shop’s namesake and owner retired two years ago because of failing health.

“He just couldn’t do it anymore,” Eunice Givens said of Shelton, now 80. “He had to have cut hair for 60 years, because we’ve been married for 50. He worked at George’s across the street before opening his shop.”

Son-in-law Robert West and his teenage daughter, Joyce, boxed up the one-room shop’s remains Tuesday morning and will come back Wednesday to finish cleaning up.

Drawers were still cluttered with combs, brushes and straight-edge razors. Pictures that once hung next to mirrors have been removed. A silly singing fish — Big Mouth Billy Bass — retired with Givens.

“He still sings,” Eunice Givens said.

Three barber’s chairs sat in the middle of the room, their razor straps hanging to the side. West said they hope to keep Givens’ chair, with “Shelton” embroidered across its leather headrest.

“That’s about all that’s left,” West said.

Plans call for the 16-story Sinclair Building to be renovated into a hotel. Its remaining tenants will be relocated.

Shelton Givens Barber Shop will simply be a memory, a place where regulars or walk-ins could engage in conversation and “get a cigar, glass of wine and hot shave,” West said.

“Just an old-fashioned haircut,” he said.

This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 2:04 PM with the headline "Longtime Fort Worth barbershop shuts its doors."