Quality haircuts for men and their sons, created by barbers who have been in the business for decades!! Located in the heart of North Andover's downtown.
Lifelong Barbers and Friends Reunited after 50 Years
It's a weekend afternoon, and a young father and mother walk through the doors of the newly founded Frank's Barber Shop on 148 Main Street in North Andover. Two boys are in tow; knees dirty, shin pads snuggly in place, along with jerseys which are draping rather loosely on the shoulders of both. On their way home from a soccer game, no doubt. There are two chairs open and the barbers Frank Serrano and Ercole Sideri give the unfamiliar faces a warm welcome. Their gregarious, light-hearted, and humorous demeanor immediately puts a smile on the otherwise apprehensive faces of the two young boys.
This is the brand new barber shop of two Merrimack Valley natives and lifelong friends Frank Serrano and Ercole Sideri. Fifty years ago, Frank Serrano met Ercole Sideri (known as Mr. Sid to friends) at the then Vegas-like Salisbury Beach. They worked together at the Salisbury Beach Barber Shop—both in their early twenties at that time and both eager to begin successful careers. Among the many stories you may overhear at Frank's Barber Shop, as he and Mr. Sid recall the “Good Ol' Days”, are some from their time cutting hair during the “Salisbury Frolic”, an event that was marked on every local's calender. People came from all over the area for sea-side fun and big-name musical entertainment. While servicing their regulars and walk-ins during the “Frolic Season”, they also served the likes of Paul Anka, Steve Lawrence, Frankie Avalon and even Tony Bennett. Make no mistake, Frank Serrano and Mr. Sid have no lack of stories, history or experience.
However exciting these times were that they shared together, their lives eventually took them in separate directions. Serrano opened up his own barber shop “Casa di Serrano” where he debuted the very first instance of Razor-Cutting as a method of men's hairstyling in Massachusetts—a method he still continues to this day, and a method which produces an especially sharp haircut. Mr. Sid began a successful 35-year business “Hair Designs for Guys and Gals” in Lawrence which was, after a legal battle with the Board of Registration, the first shop which allowed barbers and hairdressers to work side-by-side within the same building—thus changing the landscape of barber and hair-salon businesses across Massachusetts forever. There is no doubt that Serrano and Mr. Sid were, and are leaders in their field with the skill to match.
Eventually the two friends retired, but not content with simply doing nothing, and along with the desire to stay as sharp as the scissors they use, both continued to work as part-time barbers at various locations making friends and devoted customers along the way. Recently, Frank Serrano, looking for the same sense of excitement that marked his time at Salisbury, opened up a new business, Frank's Barber Shop, right on Main Street in North Andover. One day in passing, Mr. Sid saw his old friend working and organizing the business. Mr. Sid stopped by to say “Hi,” and, hitting it off so well, decided to work together again—older, wiser, but still giving the immaculate hair-cuts and stylings they always have.
So, do you prefer the welcoming and new small business owned by members of the community to the faceless chain-store? Aren't the memories you have of going in to your regular barber with your parents among the best? And if they are, would you not also want your boys to have the same? Today's world is fast, no doubt. Sometimes we are busybodies. We gladly eschew new, good experiences and memories for speed and efficiency—but, in some ways this leaves us with a social void and longing for quality. Although solving existential crises might be asking for a little much, Frank Serrano and Mr. Sid would be more than happy to fill any void the best they can with a quality haircut or styling for a man and/or his son. A professional, positive, and fun experience is guaranteed and waiting for you at the newly founded Frank's Barber Shop on 148 Main Street in North Andover Massachusetts.
