The owner of the Majestic Barber and Styling Center, at 322 Pujo St., told the American Press on Wednesday that the business will close soon because the building’s owner plans to renovate the space for a restaurant.

Ronald Guillory, who has owned the barbershop for nearly 40 years, said he received a letter Dec. 1, stating he had 30 days to move out. He said it was delivered by Tommy Eastman, an associate broker for Flavin Realty Inc. Flavin Realty is the acting property manager for Rick Richard, who owns the Noble Building, which houses the barbershop. Richard bought the building from the Noble family in May 2012.

Tim Flavin, a broker with Flavin Realty, spoke on Richard’s behalf. He said Richard’s wife, Donna, is heading an effort to renovate the space into a restaurant for downtown Lake Charles. The Noble Building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“A local architect was hired, along with the assistance of an architect out of New Orleans with a history of renovating historic buildings,” Flavin said.

He said the barbershop was on a month-to-month lease when Richard purchased the building. After that, he said, there was an understanding that a 30-day move-out notice could come at any time.

Guillory, 73, said the 30-day window will make it difficult to get rid of the equipment inside the barbershop. He said he is working to sell the four barber chairs, a shoeshine stand worth nearly $5,000, a back bar with four sinks and other equipment.

“It puts us in a bind,” he said. “Everything is antique. Right around Christmastime, people aren’t wanting to buy barber equipment.”

Guillory said he “was kind of expecting” the letter.

“They were bringing architects in regularly, looking over everything and taking notes,” he said. “I figured something was about to happen, but not this soon. Every time I cut (Richard’s) hair, he said not to worry.”

Guillory said some of the customers were upset on hearing the news.

“Most of the customers are seniors, but we have a lot of fun here,” he said. “They have been going to the same place for 40 to 50 years. They feel like the rug has been pulled out from under them.”

Despite having to close, Guillory said he has no hard feelings about the decision.

“Rick (Richard) has been good to me,” he said. “He hasn’t done anything illegal. I can’t say anything bad about him.”

Guillory said fellow barbers George Roy, 87, and Paul Bourgeois, 40, have agreed to stay at the barbershop until it closes. Roy, who retired from the shop about 20 years ago, returned to work a year ago after Guillory was injured when his lawn mower caught fire.

Guillory said he doesn’t want to start building a new shop and will either retire or go work for another barbershop.

The Richards have renovated other historic buildings in Lake Charles, including the Cash & Carry building on Enterprise Boulevard and the Calcasieu Marine building on Broad Street.

“It’s going to be a substantial investment on that end,” Flavin said of the renovation plans.