Baldy Barbers shop is snapped up just weeks after shutting doors

A former barbershop in Blackpool has been sold, with the newly-retired Baldy Barber saying he expects apartments to be put into the premises.

Having spent 59 years in the business, Mick Moriarty closed the shop because it was no longer sustainable, due to changes in Blackpool and rising costs of doing business.

The shop was opened in 1937 on Merchant’s Quay by Mick’s late father, Peter Moriarty. He opened a second shop in 1960 in Blackpool, which continued after the Merchant’s Quay one closed in 1981.

Mick Moriarty, who closed his barbershop for the last time on Saturday, November 8, after 59 years in the business, has welcomed the sale of the building on 6 Great William O’Brien St.

“Everything is done. I’m just waiting for the cheque now,” he told The Echo.

However, he said the building’s use is likely to change.

“It will be apartments, most likely; it won’t be a barbershop anyway.

“It’s a bit sad, but it had become very hard to have a barber’s business there.

“The whole of the area has gone so downhill; there’s no footfall there at all anymore.”

There are more empty premises on the formerly booming high street, as Blackpool moves more towards its shopping centre and retail park and, with this in mind, a residential development will be a welcome boost for the area, compared to a vacant building, he said.

Mr Moriarty added that he is enjoying the start of his retirement, and is currently recovering well from surgery on his hip last Thursday.

“I’m flying it; doing very well,” Mr Moriarty said.

He previously told The Echo that he plans to spend his retirement writing his memoirs, golfing in Bandon with his wife, and spending time with family, and that he is going to see Leeds United play for the first time ever, having followed them since 1963, but never having had time to see them play.