By Jordan Richart
For The Tribune
Throughout the last few years, Brett Bevers can remember having two different dreams on a few occasions about the same building in downtown Seymour.
He would dream one time of being elated that he owned the building. Then another night, he would dream someone else owned it and he would be very upset.
But it wasn’t just any building. It was the former building that was home to Bevers Family Pharmacy and Deli that his father, Bill, operated from 1987 until 2016 in downtown Seymour. When it closed in 2016, Brett had been working there full time and was the manager for the last eight years.
In July, the good dream came true, and Bevers, who has been a barber for about five years, opened his independent shop, Fit for a King, in the building that has since been converted into suites.
“I think I’ve scratched a subconscious itch by opening it here,” he said. “I went from having those dreams to being in this building, and I’m very happy to be here. I’ve always wanted to follow in his footsteps, and I think this is a way to do that.”
Fit for a King includes a waiting space and a private area for the barber shop, where clients can get a haircut and beard trim. Bevers said the private space where his barber chair is sets him apart from many shops.
“I think people open up a little bit more without the openness that other barber shops have,” he said. “At my previous barber shop, you could tell people would only go so far in conversations just because there’d be other customers there and such. I think you get more from people this way, and I think they get more from it.”
That’s another reason he added a television, music speakers and a video game console for customers to use during their visits. Customers just have to tell him what they prefer to watch or what music they prefer and Bevers makes the adjustment for them.
Many children use the video game console to pass the time, and it even helps Bevers as he gives them a haircut.
“That really helps them keep their head up and keyed in to what they’re doing,” he said. “I really like having the music because it lifts me up more.”
He has gotten a lot more customers since opening than he expected, which he attributes to his social media presence. He said he has received a number of customers simply by sharing information in the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s Smalltown Strong Facebook group.
“People will compliment a haircut I gave them, and I will get a customer or more, so it helps get the word out,” he said.
The shop also has about three times the space he uses in case he would expand services or hire another barber.
That all depends on how many clients he has come through the door and what demand there is for other services.
“Right now, it’s just haircuts, beard trims, good conversations and good times,” he said with a smile.
Bevers was halfway looking for a new career as time at the pharmacy was winding down.
As time grew closer to the pharmacy closing, Bevers was at a barber shop for a haircut and decided he wanted to give it a try. He earned his license through Hair Force Beauty Academy in Seymour and started at a local shop, telling himself he would give it five years to see if he could make a living at it.
“This is Year 5,” he said.
Bevers decided to go out on his own and called Bri Roll, executive director of Seymour Main Street. She suggested space in the old Bevers building.
He said it is much different than what it was in the short time since the pharmacy closed.
Bevers said the recent development of downtown Seymour is exciting.
“It’s nice to be back downtown and being able to work with Seymour Main Street and the camaraderie you get being with the downtown businesses,” he said. “It’s so awesome to see all the new businesses and the diversity of those businesses that are opening up down here. There is resurgence here now that wasn’t when we closed the pharmacy in 2016. I am happy to be part of it and happy to grow Fit for a King in the process.”