Dickinson barber shop to reopen May 1—regardless of Burgum's directives

 

A Dickinson barber shop will be reopening on May 1, regardless of the directive of Governor Doug Burgum.

The Gentlemen’s Barber Shop, run by Luke Simons, a Republican North Dakota State Representative from Dickinson, has been shut down due to an executive order by Governor Doug Burgum since March. The order mandated closures of personal service businesses, such as hair salons.

“The barber shop will be reopening May 1st, whether the governor gives me permission or not,” a post on The Gentlemen’s Barber Shop Facebook page read. “Last time I checked this is America, land of the free, not Mexico, I don’t need permission from the government to make a honest living.”

Simons says all precautions will be used, and requests those with compromised immune systems to not come in.

Burgum’s executive order is set to expire April 30 but could be extended. It has already been extended once by the Governor. If Burgum’s order is extended, and Simons’ barber shop reopens, he could be subject to a $1,000 fine under North Dakota law.