Man-Mur Barbershop preserves its 65-year history

Man-Mur Barbershop, located on Hillsborough Street next to the Garden Nail Salon, hosts a calm atmosphere, checkered flooring and classic equipment that’s lived there since the store's conception in 1959. 

Richard Creech owns the shop, running it with his wife and just one other employee. 

“The clientele we cater to are like farm boys, old fashioned, lawyers, doctors, everybody,” Creech said. “They're old-fashioned at heart, so they like it like that.”

Old-fashioned is the operative phrase; US Army recruitment posters, a Bible, a collection of police patches and plaques like: “The lord giveth, the government taketh away,” decorate the shop. With reruns of M*A*S*H, the Andy Griffith Show and other oldies on the television, Creech cuts hair using the same equipment from when he acquired the store from Frank Turnipseed in 1995. 

At Man-Mur, customers come for more than just a haircut. Creech’s clientele come in for a debrief, to talk to him about cars and banter with him and his wife. Creech said he takes pride in the fact that nothing has changed about his shop, despite a competitive Hillsborough corridor.

“Yeah, we’ve never changed anything,” Creech said. “Same color, same floor, same back stands, you know, everything is the same. We didn’t want to change anything. We just have three barbers.”

The shop’s atmosphere is complete with an antique cash register. Business is done simply — cash and walk-ins only.

Will Upchurch, a second-year studying agricultural business, said he likes the shop because it is the same one his father went to when he attended NC State. He said the shop is well-priced and has a convenient location for him as a student.

“It’s very, very neat,” Upchurch said. “Every time I walk in it feels like I’m a part of history. This place has been around here so long. It’s a very family-type environment. It feels very welcoming; it doesn’t feel too corporate, you know. Close to home.”

Creech said the name of the shop represents the reach of where his clientele comes from, stretching from Manteo, situated in North Carolina’s easternmost region, to Murphy, located in the state’s westernmost area. Manteo-Murphy was also the name of a call-in radio station that has since moved on, turned into a laundromat, and later a “not for lease” building with paper in the windows.

“Back in the day they had a call-in program, and a woman called in and said, ‘Why don’t you call it Man Mur, Manteo to Murphy,’ and that’s why they called it Man-Mur shopping center,” Creech said. “It’s all gone now. … I don’t know what year it was they turned it into a laundromat.”  

Being on Hillsborough Street, Man-Mur has fostered a close connection with the NC State community.

Creech said in addition to students and professors, notable NC State athletic figures like quarterback Philip Rivers and former men’s basketball coach Mark Gottfried were regulars. Now, Creech said football coach Dave Doeren gets his hair cut at Man-Mur.

Hillsborough Street and its businesses have changed significantly since Creech acquired the shop. He said the key to Man-Mur’s longevity is in the work ethic of its barbers and their desire to keep the shop’s history alive.

“Working, just being in here for the people,” Creech said. “We stay here and work — every one of us — just to keep it going.”

Creech said the shop has had to raise prices over the years to afford its lease on Hillsborough Street. 

“When I started here, it was eight dollars a cut, and now they’re up to 25 dollars a cut because of the lease, the cost of the lease and stuff,” Creech said. “Rent, you know everything’s gone up. Groceries went up, gas went up, so, you know, we got to keep up with the times.”

Upchurch said he recommends the shop. 

“I just like a very neat cut, shaving off the sides and taking a few inches off the top. Kind of like a military look,” Upchurch said. “Anyone that wants a good haircut oughta come here.”