The Shelby County barbershop that planned to defy Gov. Kay Ivey’s health order and reopen Friday reversed course amid concern that customers would be fined $500 if they entered its doors and the establishment could lose its business license.

Scott Farr, president and partner of Ervin Farr Inc., which owns The Male Room in Inverness, told reporters outside the barbershop Friday morning that he changed his mind after consulting with U.S. Rep Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, and Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, who both advised him not to reopen, Farr said.

“They made it clear what the ramifications are,” he said. “It’s obvious that we’re placing our clients at the risk of fine and obviously you got the risk of infection.”

Farr said the congressman and mayor assured him they were “going to elevate this to the highest level” by meeting with Ivey on reopening small business deemed non-essential.

The Male Room only has 30 days of capital left to operate, Farr said.

“After that point, we have to make a decision,” he said, including whether to close the barbershop. “I’ve been wrestling with what is that decision is going to be.”

The Male Room applied for coronavirus relief for small businesses known as the Paycheck Protection Program but Farr said it has not been able to secure funding after going through three sources. He lashed out at Congress for stalling while small businesses like his suffer.

“Congress, you suck,” Farr said. “You’re not even in session. Get back to work. Quit playing political football with this crap. Get to work and get this done.”

Employees showed up to work on Friday before Farr announced the decision not to reopen. They were joined by four men in protective masks, including the owner of a Birmingham barbershop, who held up posters saying, “Open Shops” and pointing out that salons already sterilize equipment and practice safety.

Owners of other barber shops came to support The Male Room owner Scott Farr. Workers from The Male Room join the other supports in front of the shop. Male Room Barber Shop owner Scott Farr decides not to open today. Supporters showed up to support him. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com). Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

“We don’t want to jeopardize any customers …but it’s to the point now where we went to school for this barbering and we were taught sterilization and sanitation,” said Demetrius Starks, owner of Dee’s Barbershop.

In step with the current reality, The Male Room employees walked toward the protesters and clapped in appreciation instead of shaking hands.

Farr had planned on reopening with “mitigations,” including taking customers by appointment only and offering only haircuts and neck shaves and not spa services.

Leeds resident Scott Harvey, a longtime customer of The Male Room, arrived at the barbershop hoping to get a haircut but was turned away and told he could be fined $500 for violating the health order if he entered the business.

“It’s almost worth it if I hadn’t already spent the money that I got from my stimulus check then I would’ve walked into that,” Harvey, a graphic designer, said of the potential fine. “I feel it’s worth it.”