It's The End of An Era As Joe the Barber Retires After 62 Years

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- Cue up Sinatra. For 62 years, Joe Scozio, professional barber, has done it his way. An era ended Friday afternoon as Scozio, better known as “Joe the Barber,” shut off the barber pole for the last time in front of the Evergreen Barber Shop, before riding off into the sunset of retirement.

On the bittersweet occasion of Scozio’s retirement, Mayor Jim Sexton proclaimed Friday, June 14, as “Joe the Barber Day” throughout the village of Evergreen Park. His loyal regulars have been streaming into the shop for the past month to get their last haircut from Scozio, who learned the barber trade from his old man.

Saturday would have been Scozio’s 62nd year in the same location at 3320 W. 95th St. in Evergreen Park. He’s looking for that space of time between 1957 and 2019, where the heads of the men and boys of Evergreen Park and other nearby communities has been his pallet.

“It’s been a real trip,” the 79-year-old Scozio says. “I don’t believe it.”

Scozio was 17 years old and fresh out of St. Rita High School, when he joined his dad in the business of cutting heads. He still uses a straight razor to sculpt sideburns and an ancient latherizer that warms up the creme for a hot shave.

The closest Joe the Barber came to cutting a celebrity’s hair was when the U.S. Sen. Paul Simon stopped by for a trim. Simon’s aide told Scozio the senator was in a hurry, but there were five people ahead of him and Scozio wasn’t going to bump his regulars.

“So he left,” Scozio said.

Famed attorney Burt Odelson sits in Joe’s barber chair -- the first chair by the window that originally belonged to Scozio’s father -- for the last official haircut at Evergreen Barber Shop. Odelson’s is the last head that Scozio has to suffer gladly.

“I’ve been Joe’s business neighbor for 40 years and coming in every three weeks for a haircut,” Odelson said. “Joe’s been a very good neighbor and a wonderful man to the neighborhood. He goes to retirement homes, disabled veterans, seniors who can’t get out of their homes to cut their hair and without any fanfare.”

Asked how he plans to spend his retirement, Scozio replies: “I’m going to sleep as much as I can and find a couple of girlfriends.”

His granddaughter Carolyn is the third generation of Scozios to enter the hair profession where she styles and cuts hair at Great Clips in Oak Forest. She’s picked up some of her grandfather’s barbering tricks.

“'The comb is your best friend,'” Carolyn says, repeating her grandfather’s mantra. “That one, and ‘it’s all about touch. You got to touch the hair to see where lays down for a good haircut,’”

The Evergreen Barber Shop will close forever as of Friday. Scozio doesn’t know what’s going to become of the storefront where he spent the last six decades on the winding trail of life.

In the lot behind the store, Scozio’s family and friends have gathered for a sentimental champagne toast, especially the regulars -- like Dick Carparelli, the assistant golf pro at the Beverly Country Club-- who have since departed.

“I thank all of you, you’ve been special to me,” Scozio said. I appreciate every one of youse, even the ones who didn’t like my haircuts.”

“And they kept coming back,” a guest calls out.

Attorney Burt Odelson received the last official haircut at Evergreen Barber Shop.