The Idea Village and Aidan Gill Support Re-Opening Mr. Chill's

By CityBusiness staff report

Mr. Chill's reopens in Broadmoor today

NEW ORLEANS - A ribbon cutting will be held at 4 p.m. to celebrate the grand opening of Mr. Chill's First Class Cuts, a Broadmoor barber shop destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

Local musicians will join in the reopening for Wilbert “Chill” Wilson, who will hold a ribbon cutting, give tours of his shop and offer free refreshments.

The shop is at 2736 S. Carrollton Ave.

The Idea Village , Aidan Gill for Men, Young Leadership Council, Trumpet Advertising, EBONetworks and Creative Motivational Services will attend the ribbon cutting.

"This is a proud day for me and a proud moment in my career. It is a tremendous honor and privilege to have received support from so many individuals, organizations and community members," Wilson said.

After Katrina, Wilson began operating out of space at a Shell station on Claiborne Avenue .

Aidan Gill, a barber on Magazine Street , and The Idea Village, a nonprofit entrepreneurial support organization, were inspired by Wilson 's story. After Wilson 's Shell station lease expired, the group offered to help rebuild his shop.

“Chill's fortitude, determination and steadfast resolve confirm his commitment to the business. It has been my pleasure to mentor Chill as he learns the ins and outs of opening his own barber shop," Gill said.

“It is truly amazing to witness so many forces joining together to support a local entrepreneur," said Tim Williamson, president of Idea Village . "At the end of the day, we believe it will be the entrepreneurs and the people who believe in them who revitalize New Orleans and keep our spirit and our pride alive. The entire country can learn a great deal from entrepreneurs like Chill.”•

Related articles:

The Idea Village meets Chill-October 2005: http://www.wdsu.com/video/8040765/index.html
Chill opens shop-Feb 2007: http://www.wdsu.com/video/10966910/detail.html