DALLAS, Texas — Students of a Deep Ellum barber school are stunned after the owner announced it’s closing on Monday.
Since 2015, the Blade Craft Barber Academy has taught students the art of barbering. Jay Blackston is one of those students who started at the academy in January.
“Barbering’s been my passion,” he said. Blackston is originally from Maryland and moved to Dallas a few years ago. He started cutting hair in college and wanted to embark on the journey of owning a shop. That’s what brought him to the Academy.
“It’s kind of been the first time that I can do something for myself,” he said.
On Monday, Blackston and other students received an email from the owner of the business Lilly Benitez saying the Academy had to close because of “unforeseen circumstances”. Faith Harrell just started at the Academy a month ago. She’s more worried about students who invested thousands of dollars into the school like Blackston.
“This was a whole journey I was going to go through, but I mean it ended so early,” said Harrell. “I just hope that this doesn't happen to anybody else.”
WFAA reached out to Benitez for comment but has not yet heard back from her.
We did get a statement from a close friend on behalf of her saying she is “Finding out exactly what to do and to make sure this situation gets fixed and you guys who need to be taken care of are taken care of.”