New Hope Barber retires after 40+ years on the job
For more than forty years, Rich Schulz has been Jon Rohe’s barber. Jon likes Rich’s shop because it’s an old-fashioned one – a perfect place for guys to kick back and chat while getting a cut.
“Just the camaraderie that was in here,” says Jon. “The guys would all get around and talk talk talk.”
But after four plus decades in the barber business, Rich decided to hang up his scissors. He says he’s getting too old, and looming shoulder surgery means his days as a shear-slinger are over. Thursday as his wife Jan looked on, Rich snipped his last locks.
It’s not all bad news for Rich’s customers. While he originally planned to just close the shop and sell off the equipment, just a couple weeks ago he got a phone call from a young barber named Abbas Almomani.
“He was interested in buying it,” says Rich. “Worked out perfect timing!”
Abbas was on hand for Rich’s last day. He met his future customers and even stepped in to help when the workload went up. Abbas says he’s planning to run the shop for another forty years. Rich’s, now Abbas,’ customers say that’s just fine with them.
“If he can continue my military taper in the back,” says Jon, “we’ll be in good shape!”
