Family tradition comes to an end at 70 years

SHEPHERDSVILLE — The business that gave downtown Shepherdsville a certain style has been cut from the local landscape.

Keith’s Barber Shop has officially closed after more than 70 years of hair maintenance — and local gossip — at 299 S. Buckman Street, across from the Bullitt County Courthouse.

The shop remained family-owned throughout its entirety, first established by Pee Wee Keith in 1947, who was later joined by his nephew, Paul, in 1958.

“Everyone thought my Dad and Pee Wee were brothers,” said owner Paulita Keith, Paul’s daughter. “Every time I tell them they were uncle and nephew, they try to tell me I’m wrong.”

Though the two mainstays were eventually gone, the shop remained open. Paulita eventually bought the building from her parents. Her husband, Scott Morris, cut hair until he experienced a stroke in 2018, while her cousin, Robert, worked part-time until his death a few months ago.

“That was really the determining factor, “Paulita said. “We had a hard time getting full-time barbers in.”

Paula admitted it was a difficult decision, with so many years of family history in a building dating back as far as 1845… or so the family was told. She said her parents met for the first time at the shop.

Like many other small cities throughout the country, the courthouse or town square was a gathering place for local residents to discuss the hot-button topics of the day. Often times the barber shop was ground zero for those gatherings.

“Many of Bullitt County’s problems were solved there,” Paulita said of the shop. “Sometimes maybe an election or two was won in there.”

Paulita remembered walking over and visiting her father in the shop after attending school at St. Aloysius. She recalled many other barbers working there alongside Paul.

“All those memories of being involved in the community with Dad,” she added.

In later years she recalled the shop being the first business to open in the downtown area following the 1997 Salt River flood.

“You could still see a line on the wall that shows the (1997) water mark,” she said. “It’s faint but it runs along one wall. It took a lot of effort to get it cleaned and opened.”

With the changing times, Paulita said more locals travel to various parts of the city or county seeking trendy styles. She added that the shops themselves had also changed over the years.

“We have a very loyal customer base,” she said. “But these old-time shops, and customers, have kinda gone by the side. Shops now are geared toward entire families, with WiFi and television… but this place is family to our customers.”

The property owned by the Keith Family contains three actual store fronts, with the other two locations previously hosting the law offices of Tammy Baker and Shelley Alvey. Paulita said the firm left at the beginning of the year after Baker became the Bullitt County attorney.

One of the best memories for local residents is the famous Keith’s Barber Shop Coca-Cola sign above the entrance along South Buckman. Paulita said the family would try to get the sign for safe keeping, with interest shown from the Bullitt County History Museum across the street.

As for Paul Keith’s barber chair, Paulita said Randy Capps, a barber from the county’s north end, planned to buy it and put it in his shop.

“People will still get to see the old chair,” she said.

Through social media, many passed along well wishes to Keith.

Longtime South Buckman business owner Bruce Thomason remembered days when there were three barber shops on the street, adding that Keith’s always seemed to have the largest crowd.

“Dennis Tate bought and sold livestock, and also hauled livestock,” Thomason recalled. “If you needed something hauled, check Keith’s first, because if he wasn’t hauling something, there was a good chance he would be there. If he wasn’t, Paul or Pee Wee would likely know where to find him.”

“I spent many hours in those barber chairs and also time just sitting and talking with everyone that came in,” said long-time customer Tom Shaw. “Keith’s was a Bullitt County iconic landmark and will always be that to those of us who loved it all those years.”

Paulita said the new owners of the building were gracious enough to allow until the end of July to remove all of the barber shop items. She had hopes that the location would remain a vibrant business for the community.

“Words could never express how humbled and grateful I am for how wonderful Bullitt County has been to Keith’s Barber Shop,” she said. “I feel fortunate and blessed that the buyer is invested in Bullitt County and I look forward to seeing what great things are planned for this historic building.”