King of Armstrong Street
There was a TV program in the 1970's called King of Kensington. I can only imagine the owner of San Rocco Barber Shop being called the King of Armstrong Street. According to the woman I spoke with outside, the owner is an Italian fellow who has been cutting hair in this same location forever. The photos on the back wall are of Rocco giving the ceremonial 'First Haircut'; there's even a newspaper story about the shop. Considering the architecture of the building, I'm thinking he even lives upstairs. Can't you just smell the alcohol of the comb sterilizer? Okay, well maybe not. But it IS just like a scene out of an old movie.
Discovering the rich cultural history of the Ottawa Valley is really fascinating. At the same time, it's a relief to encounter humble-yet-fully-functioning shops like this that thrive and add personality to the inner city.
No comments:
Post a Comment