One unforeseen obstacle after another.
That’s what cousins Jakar Al Isso and Masoud Alissou have endured ever since launching their Halifax-based business, Barran Barber Shop, in January 2018.
The Kurdish newcomers decided to start the business to harness the hairdressing skills they brought with them from their war-torn country of origin, Syria, to Turkey, and eventually to Nova Scotia in the last few years.
With the help of the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth, they negotiated with the owner of the former Starlite Barber Shop on Bayers Road to run Barran Barber Shop in its place.
“It was an old shop, so we renovated, we did some changes and (opened),” Masoud Alissou told The Chronicle Herald, through his uncle Omar Al Isso, who helped the cousins resettle in Canada and establish the business.
A year and a half in, Barran Barber Shop was starting to see some success, according to Alissou.
Then, on July 7, 2019, everything the refugees had worked up to was burnt down.
“It was our main source of income and we were working hard and got busy and at that busy time, somebody came and set (the shop) on fire,” said Alissou.
“The police couldn’t give us a right result, but we know somebody did it on purpose, but we don’t know who.”
The shop’s ceiling, floor, walls and furniture were badly damaged. The store was further damaged by water when firefighters came in to put the fire out, according to Omar Al Isso.
“Everything was destroyed completely,” said Alissou. “It was a shock and disappointment.”
The community came together and launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the barbers raise money to build the store back up “from scratch” and keep them and their young families afloat.
Although they were worried they would be victims of what seemed to be a hate crime once again, Alissou said he and his cousin had “no choice” but to get back on their feet and continue doing what they loved.
“We didn’t give up,” he said.
They brought in a contractor to do repairs at the store, but the contractor took $23,000 and ended up doing only half the job and later cut off communication with them, so they “lost some money there.”
Still, in response to customer demand, they reopened the store in late October 2019.
“All the customers, they kept calling and asking when we got closed to open and start scheduling appointments,” said Alissou.
In late February, Alissou and Al Isso opened up a second Barran Barber Shop on Parkland Drive in order to handle more customers due to size constraints at their first location.
Things were running smoothly — until COVID-19 hit.
A few weeks into starting up the second location, the pandemic forced most businesses, including barber shops, to close down, presenting them with yet another lengthy and unexpected closure.
“We were upset and worried about how to manage our finances and all this stuff,” said Alissou.
They applied for COVID-19 relief through the federal government, which Alissou said helped them and their small business “a lot.”
We are Kurdish and when we were born, we got a challenging life, and we’re still challenged every day, so that’s why we have strong will to continue.
- Masoud Alissou
On June 5, they reopened both branches, masked and ready to serve customers once again — at a reduced capacity.
“With the new rules and the regulations and a lot of protections, of course, it’s slowed down our business because it takes longer to finish one (haircut) … every time we have to clean up and it’s not easy,“ said Alissou.
“But we’re still happy to work. At least we didn’t lose our customers.”
Today, they’re still picking up the pieces from the closures and looking to rebuild their business success.
Omar Al Isso said he’s “so proud” of his nephews for sticking to their passion and that they’re living testaments to how it’s possible to overcome anything if you’re willing to put in blood, sweat and tears.
“After being here a few years, they set up a business and they work hard,” he said. “Of course, I’m happy.”
Reflecting on the tribulations they have faced, Alissou said it often takes undergoing various challenges in order for someone to come out successful.
“Of course there are always challenges that we have to face and the challenges never finish, but that’s a part of life,” he said.
Their pasts, which were filled with “conflict and war and ethnic cleansing” in Syria, prepared them for hardships and made them stronger, he added.
“We are Kurdish and when we were born, we got a challenging life, and we’re still challenged every day, so that’s why we have strong will to continue,” said Alissou.
With customers pouring in from “all over Halifax, Bedford and even Sackville,” Alissou said they’re encouraged to keep going and plan to eventually open up more barber shops in the province.
“We will never give up.”
Noushin Ziafati is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.
