MBA Recognizes Salon at Marc Stephens and Roffler of Moorestown

People who live in Moorestown cherish its nostalgic charm, but they also appreciate local access to the latest trends.

It’s not always easy for merchants to provide both—but when the café next door to Roffler of Moorestown Barbershop closed down, proprietor Mark Merlino and his wife Michele saw an opportunity to create a combined space that could offer residents the best of traditional and contemporary hair and beauty options.

They took the plunge and, after implementing considerable capital improvements on the entire building, opened a companion business next to the barbershop—the elegant Salon at Marc Stephens, managed by Michele.

Now the side-by-side enterprises provide a compendium of personal services for men and women, including high-end product lines and technical expertise along with the friendly personal attention that has made the barbershop a home-town favorite for decades.

The building that houses both businesses on Chester Avenue has been handsomely redesigned after more than a year of planning and construction.

The exterior sports a polished new façade, and the former café portion of the interior was gutted to the studs to make way for the beautifully appointed space now occupied by the salon.

Clients of the Salon at Marc Stephens are invited to relax in an elegant, spa-like environment, while the barbershop retains the warm, comfortable atmosphere that has drawn generations of loyal customers.

The barbershop and salon also offer free parking in the back.

Constructed originally as a family home in the late 1800s, the building was converted to a café in 1911 and added a barbershop on one side in 1959.

Mark’s father John Merlino bought the barbershop business in 1961 and went on to purchase the entire building in 1973, leasing out the other side to various restaurant entrepreneurs through the years.

The eponymous John’s Barbershop changed with the times in the 1970s when it became part of the exclusive Roffler franchise of barbers, offering the latest in men’s hair styling.

In 1980, Mark joined the business where his father had built a reputation for personal attention to his clientele and dedication to professional excellence, and has maintained that legacy since John’s retirement in 1999.

The building’s upgrades and improvements have added some new sparkle to the Chester Avenue stretch of commercial properties that are conveniently located in the heart of town.

Moorestown Business Association applauds the Merlinos for making the commitment to participate in the township’s next wave of enterprise while maintaining an appreciation for tradition, and is delighted to present an MBA Spotlight Award to Salon at Marc Stephens and Roffler of Moorestown.

The MBA initiated its Spotlight Award program in 2015 to highlight local businesses that are making a positive impact on the community. Business owners and residents are invited to contact the MBA to share information about initiatives they have implemented or businesses they know that have taken measures to improve Moorestown.

Photo: (l. to r., MBA Vice President Steven Pazienza, Michele and Mark Merlino, and MBA President Don Powell). Photo credit: William Kaisla