GEORGETOWN, Texas -- Owner, Nik Shanklin, is celebrating his shop's 10th anniversary, a day he never thought would happen.
"I did about 10 calendar years in prison over probably about three or four visits. So, yeah, at one point it was just like I got to do something better. My kids deserve better. And this is this going in and out of jail and living life like this is, you know, it's for the birds." Nik says.
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The transition from prisoner to business owner wasn't easy, but he says it was his only choice.
"Being a barber basically saved my life. I can say that now. I've seen so many of my friends that have died and overdose and they're in jail and prison," Shanklian says.
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The 41-year-old doesn't shy away from his story but instead uses it to uplift others by starting "Stretch," a youth program geared to helping troubled teens get back on track.
The father of seven also employs other felons at his Georgetown shop because a second chance after prison is hard to come by.