When one barber shop closes, another one opens

When barber John Romanowicz decided to retire at the end of 2013, he pictured himself closing the doors on his 53-year-old business and walking away. He posted a sign in the window: Closing Dec. 21.

But, his granddaughter took pictures of the shop on her phone and posted them online, leading another barber, Sherre Dobbyn, who was in need of a shop, to lease the building from Romanowicz.

Pictured: Barber John Romanowicz cut the hair of Arthur Sullivan, a long-time customer.

Dobbyn, 48, has been a barber for 23 years. She owned a barber shop in East Bridgewater for 14 years, but left it to move to Florida, she said. She returned to Massachusetts a couple of years ago, and was working at another shop and looking for a permanent location when she saw the Holbrook Barber Shop on Craigslist, she said.

Pictured: Barber Sherre Dobbyn was photographed at her new shop.

“I get a certain satisfaction out of that,’’ Romanowicz said, speaking between customers, two days before he retired. “I love it. Now I have a way out.’’

Pictured: Romanowicz cut the hair of Arthur Sullivan, a long-time customer.

Romanowicz started working as a barber in 1960 at a location not far away, across from Holbrook Town Hall, when he was about 30 years old.

Pictured: The photograph was taken when Romanowicz (center) was the president of the Master Barbers of America.

The original building where Romanowicz rented space was sold about 25 years ago. The new owner had other plans, and wanted him out. He packed up the barber chairs and made his new home on Maple Avenue.

The barbering business has changed dramatically during his career, he said. These days, barbers do far less shaving and beard trimming than the previous generation. Most of the business is haircuts.

Barbering has been good work, Romanowicz said.

He likes interacting with different people, he said, “and believe me, you get a rainbow of people.’’ Some keep quiet in the chair; others talk about life and draw him into conversation.

Dobbyn said she intends to keep it going until she hangs up her scissors for good.

“My goal is to carry the tradition that he’s built here,’’ she said.