RONCEVERTE (WVDN) – A brand-new barber shop, Knife River Barber Company, officially opened its doors in Greenbrier County, just in time to get a fresh holiday look. Knife River is owned and operated by Hunter Ventress. Located in the Red Oaks Shopping Center, the shop is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Appointments are available, and walk-ins are accepted.
Ventress said he decided to open his own barbershop after spending some time looking for work in the area. He also said after attending local events such as Oktoberfest, he noticed how locals enjoyed having a place to hang out. “I felt like it [the barbershop] would be a good addition to the area — bring a new barbershop in place for people to get together,” he said.
Ventress went on to say he wanted to create a family-friendly environment that provides a high skill level but remains affordable.
As for what brought Ventress into the industry, he said it was a desire to give back.
He stated, “I wanted to help people. A haircut can make somebody’s day or week.”
When talking about what he wants the community to know about his shop, Ventress said, “Everybody’s welcome.” He continued, saying, “Everyone is treated the same; it’s comfortable, and everybody gets the same high-quality level of service.” Additionally, the shop provides complimentary drinks to customers.
Choosing where to open a business is often difficult, but Ventress feels he found the perfect area for his barbershop. While part of the decision included liking the area, he also noted that there were no other similar businesses without traveling into downtown Lewisburg.
“I felt like this area right here was kind of in the heart of everything. Not too far from Lewisburg and not too far from Ronceverte or surrounding areas.”
He went on to say that, so far, the shop has already seen customers travel from as far away as Covington and Roanoke, Va., to get a haircut.
In the future, Ventress plans to hold community-oriented programs and events such as coat drives and back-to-school haircuts. During the warm months, he said he is considering hosting events with cornhole and barbecue.
The shop offers multiple services to clients, including haircuts, beard trims, straight razor shaves and more. Knife River’s current price list includes a haircut for $25, a beard trim for $15 and a combo of the two for $35. A traditional, hot-towel shave is $20.
Ventress encourages anyone interested in Knife River’s services to come by and “get the experience for yourself.” To make an appointment, call 304-989-7763. Knife River also has an active Facebook page titled Knife River Barber Company. The address is 232 Red Oaks Shopping Center, Ronceverte, WV 24970, beside Ollies.
