Five questions with shop founder joe caccavella sr.

Five questions with shop founder Joe Caccavella Sr.

1. What’s your first memory of picking up clippers or scissors?

I was young back in Italy the first time I held clippers seriously, and I remember being nervous but excited. It wasn’t about money back then. It was about learning a skill with your hands that people actually depended on. I didn’t know it would become my life, but I knew I liked the work right away.

2. Why barbering instead of something else?

Back then, you either learned a trade or learned fast. Barbering was honest work. You showed up, you worked hard, and people respected it. I liked that a man walked in one way and walked out better because of something I did with my hands.

3. How did Joe’s Barbershop start?

I didn’t open the shop with some grand plan. I opened it because I believed in working for myself and building something solid. It started small, just a chair, a mirror, and a lot of long days. But I treated every customer the same way — with pride in my work.

4. What was the neighborhood like back then?

The neighborhood was different — quieter in some ways, rougher in others. Everyone knew each other. Shops were family-owned. When people came in, they stayed for conversation as much as the haircut. It was a community place, not just a business.

5. First customer you remember?

I don’t remember his name, but I remember wanting to do everything perfectly. I probably took twice as long as I needed to, just to make sure it was right. When he walked out happy, I knew I was in the right line of work.