By Mel Whitlock
Located in the heart of Lehigh just off Homestead Road, Fade Em’ Up Barbershop has been a pillar of their community for more than ten years. Owner, Alan Pruitt, has made Fade Em’ Up Barbershop one of the ‘safe spaces’ for men to come and speak respectful, yet freely, about a broad range of topics without criticism or judgment. In terms of sports conversation, I would argue that few barbershops can speak on the history of the talented athletes who have come through Lee County the way the barbers at Fade Em’ Up Barbershop have been able to over the years.
Alan graduated from Riverdale High School and played varsity football during his time as a Raider. Emmitt Williams IV, who has been my barber for a decade and my sons’ barber since they were 2-years old, is a product of North Fort Myers High School. Then there is Thomas Young, who everyone simply calls ‘coach’ because he has coached track and football on various levels throughout Lee County. I consider coach a local sports historian, because whenever I come in the shop, he teaches me (and others) about so many great players who have come through our area that may have been forgotten for various reasons.
Fade Em’ Barbershop Supports Homegrown Talent
During this time of year if one were to walk into Fade Em’ Up Barbershop on Saturdays, he or she would see a college football game on one or both televisions. If Alabama is playing on that day, the television will be on their game to see how Lehigh alumnus Richard Young is doing for the Roll-Tide. If Colorado is playing, the television will be on their game to see how North Fort Myers High School alumnus Deion “Prime Time” Sanders is doing in his effort to revitalize the Buffaloes program. Lee County continues to produce some of the best football talent in the nation and Fade Em’ Barbershop is a place where that talent is often celebrated because of its connection to the “239.”
Emmitt is the father of Emmitt Williams V, arguably the highest recruited southwest Florida basketball player in this century thus far. Williams V went on to play college basketball at LSU and whenever his team was featured on television, it was automatically assumed that clients in the shop were all Tiger fans rooting for both father and son. The roots of athletics runs deep at Fade Em’ Up Barbershop from the affiliations of the barbers, to the current student-athletes getting themselves a ‘fresh cut’ on gameday; the barbershop is the place to find out the score of a game between Dunbar and Fort Myers, why coaches were fired, and who is the latest top player to transfer schools.
Jordan vs. LeBron…and Don’t Bet with Zay!
Now let me be clear, Michael Jordan is the greatest NBA player in the history of the league. I say that not as a fan of Jordan (Olajuwon was my favorite player growing up); however, Jordan changed the entire trajectory of how basketball is viewed even in today’s game. Despite this well-thought and articulate argument that I am goaded into while getting a haircut, I am constantly in a debate with Emmitt, and another barber named Zay because they want to crown LeBron James as the greatest of all time. I also learned that if Zay ever says “you wanna bet on it” don’t take the bait! These are some of the conversations to expect while waiting for a top-of-the-line haircut by qualified barbers which also include Jay, Michel, and Mychel.
Appreciating the Sacred Space Fade Em’ Up Barbershop
The main takeaway from this op-ed in celebrating community staples such as the local barbershops, by highlighting my own, is that these places are more than just a business to get a service. At Fade Em’ Up Barbershop men can escape from the stress of daily expectation and talk freely where respect is mutually given. All of the barbers are qualified in their craft, but most important, each barber reflects the best of what a barbershop should be to real men.
239-230-8140
25 Homestead Rd N, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936
