The impact of Covid-19 on 611 Purple Factory Barbershop

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611 Purple Factory is a barbershop that is located in the Regent Park area, at 611 Dundas Street East, right across for the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre. The shop’s area of service focuses on the hair cuts, shape ups, fading and more. The shop is owned by Martin Ferreira.

Barbershops, unfortunately, is one of the non-essential services ordered to close as part of Ontario Premiere Doug Ford’s announcement on Tuesday March 23, 2020, that all non-essential store and services would be ordered to close, in an attempt to slow down the spread of Covid-19.

The closure has caused a lot of hardship for small business owners like Martin. Yet, despite the closure and loss of revenue, Martin took the news in stride and was even positive about it. According to Martin, this was his first summer break in over ten years. Most summers, “we just cut hair stand inside and watch the seasons change through the windows. This summer I was able to enjoy the outdoors and have fun,” said Martin.

When the news came that non-essential businesses including barbershops were finally able to reopen, Martin did not know until his clients started to contact him to open. Nevertheless, Martin did not wait; he took it upon himself to clean and sanitize. He also called in a cleaning crew to assist and stayed in his shop till the wee hours of the morning before opening day, to properly prepare. As part of the new normal, mask wearing & hand sanitization is required and he only takes clients by appointment only which allows him to put limits on how many people are in the shop at any one time.

Martin was surprised to see how many big company’s and franchise’s closing down due to the pandemic considering all the money these businesses make. Martin believes that you have to hustle to run a business and that it is important to be relentless and have the right attitude.

When asked why he started a business in Regent Park, Martin replied, “I didn’t choose Regent Park…Regent Park chose me”.

Martin’s relationship with Regent goes way back, much prior to the start of the redevelopment. “I had friends and family here and I am blessed and honoured to be here”. Martin believes that Regent Park is a historical neighbourhood with a rich heritage and culture. The history is very deep and a lot of people don’t know about it even people who moved into the area from other parts of the city. “I feel the need to educate them. This is not just another Starbucks, I am part of this heritage,” says Martin.

For all of Martin’s reminisces about the neighbourhood Martin insists that, “the past is the past and it ain’t coming back”. Instead Martin hopes that the 611 Purple Factory will contribute to the future of the neighbourhood. Even if it is just conversations with young people or condo owners in the Barber’s chair at the 611 Purple Factory.


By Gaelle Kosi with contribution by Adonis Huggins

(Gaelle Kosi is a summer journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre).


To watch the interview, click here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaKm5xL_Ny4


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