ATHOL — Joe Neri said when he first opened for business, there were 12 barbers in Athol. Now there are three (not counting a couple that bill themselves as “hair salons”). After the end of the month, there will only be two.
Neri, who owns Joe’s Barber Shop, has decided to hang up his clippers after more than five decades in business. He moved into the small storefront at 56 Exchange St. 33 years ago, after spending 18 years at another spot on Exchange Street.
He spoke to the Athol Daily News about his time as Athol’s go-to barber while working on a haircut for long-time patron Larry Patterson, who occupied a chair that had been used by generations of customers.
He said barbering was a profession that he simply “fell into.”
“I was just out of high school and I had to do something,” said Neri. “I’d always kind of wanted to do it.”
A native of Barre, after graduating from Barre High School he apprenticed at a barber shop known as Bernie’s in Auburn. Soon, he said, he learned of a shop for sale in Athol. He bought the place and has been here ever since, becoming a fixture in downtown Athol.
While many newer barbers train at schools like Rob Roy or Heartland, such was not the case for Neri.
“My apprenticeship was the class I went to,” he said. “You could do updates, but they weren’t mandatory. My business was good, and I just picked up more skill as I went along.”
Neri said one of the toughest times for him — for all barbers, really — was the 1970s, when long hair for men and boys was the “in” thing.
“That was a tough time. But, in the long run, it kind of helped us out because a lot of barbers quit during that time. The ones that were left, well, business eventually came back and it has stayed pretty good.”
The aspect of the job he likes best, said Neri, is the people.
“I just really like the customers. I enjoy conversing with them, getting to know them. You get to know families. Guys whose hair you cut when they were kids, they ended up bringing their kids in here.”
Neri lost his wife, Suzanne, three years ago but he said that didn’t factor into his decision to retire.
“Actually, working helped me out when she passed away. Coming back in and working, being around the people, cutting hair all helped me deal with it.
“I just figured I’ll be 79 in May. I do enjoy the work, but all day long is tough. I wanted to retire while I could still enjoy the time off. I wanted to get out while I’m still feeling good.”
When asked where he’ll go for his haircuts once Joe’s Barber Shop has closed its doors, Patterson responded, “I have no idea.”
“A lot of them are saying that,” Neri interjected.
The secret to the longevity of his business?
“Just getting up every morning and getting to it,” he said. “I start at 6:30 in the morning and, now, go until 4:30.”
And how about plans for retirement?
“I’ll do a little bit of traveling. I’ve got a sister in Southport, North Carolina. I’ve never seen her place, so I’d like to do that. And Aruba, I really like Aruba.”
Still, even though he’s facing retirement with a positive attitude, Neri said he’s been wrestling with making the decision for a while.
“It’s not easy,” he concluded. “Even right now I have mixed feelings, mainly because of the customers. They’re good customers and I hate to leave them, you know?”
His official last day in business is Feb. 27. Asked if he has appointments scheduled for that day, Neri, seeming almost surprised the question would even be asked, quickly responded, “Oh, yeah. I’m working right up to the end.”
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.