After the Great Clips in the Memorial Union closed, there is no longer a barber shop on campus. Photo by Shae Bonifacio/The Dakota Student.

The last barber shop on campus — Great Clips — closed its doors at the end of January after being a fixture in the Memorial Union for 10 years.

The shop’s last day of business was Jan. 31, when the lease the store held with the Union expired. Great Clips was the first business not affiliated with the university to rent out space in the Union in 2004 after renovations had been done on the building.

“This was a very, very difficult decision,” owner Cary Schilling said. “We are grateful for the opportunity the university gave us.”

The decision to close the store was based on several such as the lease ending and the struggle to staff it properly.

“It’s difficult to staff when it is closed several months of the year and over Christmas break and spring break,” Schilling said.

Memorial Union Director Tony Trimarco said there is a committee looking into how to use the space in the future.

“This creates an opportunity to revisit how the space is used,” Trimarco said. “They will determine any other uses for the space to provide services for students.”

Trimarco also noted that this is the first time in more than 50 years the campus has been without a barber shop.

“I don’t know the answer to how this will affect students,” Trimarco said.

Schilling said he would like to be back in the Union or at a location close to campus in the future.

“It’s so great to hear that UND is still so focused on providing great services for its students,” Schilling said. “They were very focused on students when I attended, and it is nice to know they still care so much.”

Megan Hoffman is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected].