AN IRISH barber has received death threats after banning women from his stores.
Johnny the Baba, also known as Johnny Shanahan, is the proprietor of Barber Barber, with stores in Manchester and Liverpool.
Since making the move across the water just two years ago, Johnny’s business has gone from strength to strength. His original store was so successful he expanded to a second city and has his eyes set on the capital next.
But his unorthodox approach to the venture has been garnering attention for all the wrong reasons.
An 18-year-old woman revealed during the summer that she had been asked to leave the store while her boyfriend was tended to by one of Johnny’s barbers – dubbed the Scoundrels.
His stores are run by men, for men and women are not permitted on the premises.
Aside from hair and beard trimming services, customers of Barber Barber can also partake in poker or go to the bar – even buy cigars in his stores.
His unique method to how he runs the business has meant Johnny has been the subject of abuse, both on and offline, since the original news broke about the ban on women.
On social media, he received death threats and he turned up to work one morning to find tampons which had been doused in red paint had been posted through his letterbox.
Johnny is sticking to his guns, though, and business is flourishing with further expansion planned for next year in the form of four London stores.
