I'm carrying on the legacy of a South Shields master barber as Stoney's new owner
A South Shields barber is set to continue the legacy of the man who taught him his trade.
A South Shields shop is set to continue the legacy of a South Shields master barber as it begins to operate under brand new leadership.
Liam Grant is set to take over Stoney’s Barber Shop, on Laygate, from Tuesday, September 1, as he looks to keep the memory of Allan Stone at the heart of the business while taking it forward as his own.
Allan, who was a much-loved figure in the borough, died suddenly aged 46 in January 2021, leaving his family and the local community heartbroken.
However, the family have decided that it is time for the business to take on a new direction and are passing the torch onto Liam, who started sweeping floors at Stoney’s as a Saturday job back in December 2015.
‘I’d love to be able to follow in Allan’s footsteps’
Liam has given an insight into what it means to be able to take on the long-standing barber shop and revealed that he hopes to follow in Allan’s footsteps.
The 26-year-old said: “This is something that I never expected when I started working here - I only started sweeping the floor and didn’t think this would be my career.
“Allan was such a prestigious figure and alongside the legacy of the shop, to have the opportunity to take it over is incredible really.
“Stoney’s is such a respected business within the local community and I’d love to be able to follow in Allan’s footsteps.
“Allan was an educator and I’d love to be able to do that myself.
“Everyone has been buzzing that I’m taking over, you don’t really realise how much impact a shop can have on people’s lives.
“You can see in people’s faces how happy they are and I love the fact that I can keep this legacy going.”
‘Allan would absolutely love the idea of Liam taking over’
Lyndsey has revealed that her brother would have been “over the moon” to see the “natural progression” of Liam taking over the business.
The 42-year-old commented: “It has been a tough year considering our options for the shop - one of them being that it would have to close and that would have been unthinkable.
“We’ve always known that Liam has wanted to have his own business so it felt right to approach him.
“It has meant that it has turned from something really upsetting to something that is a natural progression and repetitive of Allan’s journey because he bought the shop from his employer.
“It’s amazing for us to pass it onto Liam and even though we’ll be stepping back as a family, we’re always going to be strong supporters of Liam and here if he ever needed anything.
“Allan would absolutely love the idea of Liam taking over, I know that he’d be over the moon.
“Seeing Liam come in as his Saturday lad and then taking him under his wing, Allan would know in his heart that Liam would have all of the best interests for the shop and it’s legacy.
“As a family, we wish Liam all the success and thank the South Shields community for all the support they’ve given us over the years.”
You can keep up to date with Stoney’s by following: https://www.instagram.com/granty_at_stoneys/ or https://www.facebook.com/p/Stoneys-Barber-Shop-South-Shields-100054499447581.