The Barbers Son
I am amazed at how history is repeating itself. In 1935 my father opened his barber shop. I remember him telling me a story how he desired to be a doctor. His father had passed when he was young when his mother told him he had to leave school and open a Barbershop.
The part of the story that has stuck with me all my life is that he said if he had to be a barber, he was going be the best Barber there was.
He apprenticed under a Barber named Namolli. And those days when you apprenticed in a barbershop cleaning spittoons was one of your jobs. I can’t even imagine that he persevered through that. He opened his own barbershop in 1935. He had five barbers working for him and in those days that was a pretty big deal.
Forward to the 80s he became a one-man Barber shop. One day I went to the barbershop with him when I was 14 and fell in love with the whole traditional Barbering vibe.
At 69 years old, he went and took a GED that was needed to be able to take a barber teacher license test.
He passed both with flying colors and had the credentials by law to be my teacher.
I apprenticed under him for four years. Back then barbers had unions, and he had many friends in the barbering world. In 1957 he founded and was the chairman of the Philadelphia Barber Beauty Show. once a year. He wfunded and worked very hard to put on this show, so other barbers and beauticians, could learn, compete, and hone their skills to become the best in their craft. He was more than dedicated to the trade and respected by so many in his field that they decided to give him a testimonial dinner and two tickets to Italy to show their appreciation for the many years he sacrificed to help so many in his industry.
When I was 19 I took over his barber shop for a week so he could go to Italy with my mother. I had never imagined I would single-handedly run the barbershop but I did well. That was September 1984.
On Decembet 19th 1984 he was suddenly rushed to the hospital with a heart attack. When he was in the hospital, I vividly remember telling him “don’t worry daddy I will take care of the barber shop for you”
I never expected him to pass away the next day. I knew his barbershop was his life I saw it with my own eyes, how he loved his clients and his scissors.
Shortly after his death, I had to go to the barbershop, put the key in the door and continue on his legacy. When I walked in the barbershop, I looked at the two chairs, side-by-side and decided that I would work in his chair so he could somewhat live on through me. Where I had the strength to continue on without him, must’ve came from above, as I was only 19 and a female and a male trade. With God’s grace I carried on for 20 years without him. I closed the barbershop in 2003 as I wanted to stay home with my son and again by gods grace I was able to adopt a nine month old baby boy from Korea. I loved being at home and raising a five year old boy and a nine month old boy at that time was what I wanted most and I was blessed enough to have it. I would cut my families hair and my neighbors, so I still kept my hands in my craft until it was time to get back into Barbering full-time. When that moment came, I worked in a very high-end hotel in a barbershop located in the spa. It was kind of strange I had to go in through the basement of the hotel, the workers entrance & punch the clock which was something I never did when I had taken over my dads business. It was quite different.
Fast forward to 2022. My middle son Angelo decided he was going to cut hair. I had him come in my barber shop, sit in the chair and watch me just as I did with my dad when I was learning. I taught him just the way I remembered my dad teaching me. Months later I was told I needed a retina surgery. I never expected that. It was a miracle at that point Angelo is a licensed barber and took over my business for two months as I recovered from my surgery. It just happened that way and was not expected. So it seems to me history repeating itself under different circumstances, but similar, where is he had to go in and put the key in the door and keep the place alive. September 2023 I will celebrate five years in my location on 200 Central Ave. in Sarasota. I wonder if Angelo didn’t step in if I would even have a business left. Real barbers never close shop and with long hours, they will also open early for clients and stay late for clients even when they feel like they can’t cut one more head of hair. The love of their trade is unique & love of their people is precious. Proud to say some of my clients actually prefer Angelo’s haircuts to mine. That’s the ultimate gift for a teacher to see their student excel.
My father would never believe how his legacy is carrying on. In the days when he was alive men were barbers you didn’t see too many women barbers. He thought when my older brothers didn’t want to take over the business his name wouldn’t carry on. The love I had for my father led me down the path to continue his legacy. Will continue on that legacy, which makes my life so much sweeter. I see the same passion and determination and Angelo and know how that will grow every day. It is more than amazing to have a job that isn’t really a job. Some thing you can do every day and be enthusiastic and happy from start to finish. I am grateful to my clients for giving him the chance while I was out of the barbershop. You all played a part of history for our family name and tradition.
The very best part of this story is that Angelo is enjoying it just as I enjoyed it and my father before me and that makes a very happy ending thus far. Have another generation carrying on my fathers name. In our barbershop. The best barbers embrace the skill, have a deep determination, and desire to take a pair of scissors, and create the best we can for each individual.
Thank you again for your love and loyalty as we promise to give you the same love and loyalty back to you as you are valuable to us and we strive to give you more than the best with every visit.