Village Barber Shop Owner Changes, But Traditions Continue

By Kendra Bobowick

Dollops of shaving cream accompany the friendly conversation and crisp whispers of scissor blades at the Village Barber Shop on Queen Street. A fixture in the shop for more than 40 years, Italian-born owner Joe Pelino is turning over the business to Frank Ambari, who already operates Frank’s Hair Salon on Route 25 in Monroe.

Walking past the spinning red and white striped barber pole and into the shop’s entryway, clients settle into the atmosphere filled with scissors and straight razors, and are greeted by name. These elements are hints at the tradition Mr Pelino has maintained for decades, and is passing into Mr Ambari’s hands.

“I am an old-fashioned barber shop,” he said. “When you go to a true barber shop you can get any cut and a shave — and we use scissors.”

Noting how trends have changed, he said that at some Unisex salons, “maybe they can’t do everything.”

Mr Pelino is different.

“I am a true barber,” he said. Snipping at a client’s sideburns while glancing up to make a point, Mr Pelino gestured, “Long, short, flat-tops, shaves…[I] do any hair cuts, and ages.”

Brushing clippings from one man’s shoulders, Mr Pelino paused to make a point.

“One of my first customers said it’s better to lose a doctor, not a barber.” He said another man refuses to go to anyone else for his cuts.

While waiting to get into a chair, customer Peter Rustici explained that he had come in for a cut, but Mr Pelino had just left for a vacation.

“I had missed you by a day,” Mr Rustici said. “I went somewhere else and thought, how bad could it be? But, now I know better.”

“Customers have a lot of faith,” explained Mr Pelino. He has customers who drive in from Litchfield and as far away as Kent who have been seeing him “for years,” he said. “On a Saturday there will be ten people waiting.”

Each man to walk in the door was immediately greeted by name as Mr Pelino asked after family members, one man’s health as he strode in wearing a walking cast, and asked about others’ business.

“You’ve got to have personality,” Mr Pelino said.

Each time a client crossed the threshold, grabbed a magazine and found an empty seat Mr Pelino called out, “Hey, Tom,” or “Hello, Jim.”

 Waiting their turns for a cut were Tom Richmond, 36, who has been coming to Mr Pelino since he was 4 years old, and Alex Villamil, who is going on 13 years. While shaking out a smock to rest over his client’s shoulders Mr Pelino explained, “You can talk about sports, you can talk about gardening, and have conversation, yes, yes, yes, but I stay away from religion and away from politics.”

Mr Pelino joined the Village Barber Shop in 1962.

He said, “I have customers coming here since before I came here,” he said. John Marino originally opened The Village Barber Shop in 1957. He and Mr Pelino worked together until Mr Marino prepared to retire. Approaching 1990 Mr Marino worked part time for Mr Pelino, who then operated the shop alone from 1990 to 2006, he said. Mr Pelino now plans to work regularly through December. Starting in January he plans to reduce his hours to weekends for the year of 2007.

Mr Pelino wanted to bring in the new barber without leaving his clients abruptly, he said.

“You can’t just close the door on them, they won’t know where to go,” he said.

His long career began during the World War II era as Mr Pelino grew up in Italy.

“Near my parents’ house was a barber’s shop and I would hear stories of the war and I kept my eye on [the barber] and said, I can learn this…” Mr Pelino explained. He began his trade in Italy, moved to the United States in 1961 where he met Village Barber Shop owner Joe Marino.

 

A New Barber

Frank Ambari had ambitions to be a barber since his youth.

“I knew since I was 12,” he said. “It’s a family trade.” Mr Ambari has two uncles in the business, he said.

Last week as he stood equipped with a new pair of scissors he welcomed someone from the waiting area to step up to his chair. Smiling at him was Mr Pelino who said, “There is only one way, the old-fashioned way.”

Mr Ambari is going to spend time getting to know his clients’ preferences, while continuing the barbershop traditions.

“I intend to perform at as a high a level as Joe,” he said.

Village Barber Shop is now open for business Monday through Friday (including Wednesdays) from 8 am to 6 pm, and Saturday from 8 am through 4 pm. Wednesday specials include $5 off cuts for Newtown High School players and coaches.