Popular in beautiful British cities, the High Street Shop is set to close its doors at the end of this month. Edinburgh's legendary barber shop, Benny closes its store after nearly 60 years of business.
The Barbour Shop opened in 1966 on Grove Street in the Busy Fountain Bridge area. It is run by Benny Di Bettese and his son-in-law Tony Celini, and is a traditional Italian-style boys' barber shop. The last day of the operation will be Wednesday, April 30th. Benny has long been a beloved fixture of the community, so its closure is a huge loss for loyal patrons.
Notifications posted to the Barber Shop inform customers of sad news, Edinburgh News reports.
“It's the end of the times! With sorrow and gratitude, we can announce that Benny will be closing in business in '59.
“It is a joy to serve you and we are forever grateful for your support and loyalty over the years.”
The notification ends: “I hope for the warmest and warmest. Benny and Tony. Deadline 30/04/25.”
UK High Street has experienced significant store closures in 2025 due to rising operating costs, increased competition with online retailers and changing consumer behavior.
According to the Center for Retail Research, 17,350 retail closures and up to 202,000 job losses are expected this year, surpassing even the impact of the pandemic.
Recently, WH Smith has begun closures of branches, contributing to the continued reduction in physical retail space.