Barber Serville Prepares To Close After 7 Decades In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Barber Serville will close next month after more than 70 years in business, but the shop showed no sign of slowing down on a recent Friday morning. All the barber's chairs were full as kids and adults alike came in for a fresh cut.

The shop is closing amid a planned redevelopment of the Fairfield Community Theater, which is in the same building. Kleban Properties has committed to buying the long-vacant venue and investing at least $4 million in renovating the theater and other space on the property. Sacred Heart University will lease and operate the facility.

"The clients have been excellent. I'm going to miss them all," said Joseph Vaccarella, who has worked at Barber Serville for about 60 years — 40 of them as the owner.

The feeling of appreciation is mutual, according to the customer who was in Vaccarella's chair the day Vaccarella was interviewed. That client said he's been coming back for decades because of Vaccarella.

Vaccarella's daughter described the barbershop as a place where kids grow up and customers turn into friends.

"We're like family," said Ann Marie Vaccarella, who took over ownership of the business from her dad 10 years ago.

Both father and daughter reflected on a changing downtown Fairfield, reminiscing about a bygone era when businesses such as Mercurio's, The Fairfield Department Store, Al's Place, Woolworth's and many more lined the town streets. Joseph said he has seen the neighborhood get quieter as the years have passed.

Ann Marie said the barbershop's storefront will be part of the theater redevelopment and that Barber Serville was not given the option to renew the lease for its location at 1426 Post Road.

"It's just the way Fairfield's going," said Paul Smith, who has worked at the shop about 30 years.

Kleban Properties offered the business a space in the Brick Walk, according to Joseph, but he didn't want to make the move.

Barber Serville will close sometime in the third week of August. Joseph plans to retire, while Ann Marie and Smith will work at Fairfield Barber Shop.