Page 8 - The Hunt - Winter 2023/24

EDITOR'S NOTE
Barbershop Confidential
Most of us are too old to remember our first haircut. But you likely remember the first barber who made an impression on you—and the sights, sounds and smells of his or her domain. For me, it was Chip D’Ascanio, who always got the length just right, never overcommitting. For a half-century at least, his shop has been
a fixture at the Great Valley Shopping Center in Malvern.
Over in Kennett Square, Fragale Brothers is another beacon of consistency, its roots dating back to the turn of the 20th century. “There’s a soothing simplicity to a barber’s snip, snip, snip and gentle tug of the comb,” says contributing editor Jim Graham, who provided the story and images for this month’s piece on his favorite barbershop. “Rather than the harsh odor of perm chemicals, there’s the subtle smell of bay rum. Instead of Top 40 hits piping through a speaker system, it’s the chatter of waiting customers and the banter of
each barber with a client—always the sound of conversation.”
Since taking over the shop in 2001,
Mike and Barry Fragale have weathered some adversity, including the pandemic. Now there’s another hurdle to overcome.
In August 2022, Barry was in Bethany Beach with his wife and two daughters when
he broke his neck boogie boarding. He was airlifted to Christiana Hospital, where he underwent two surgeries and remained hospitalized for over two weeks.
Barry is now in rehab and on
the road to recovery—but it’s going to be
a long road. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $100,000, and a local automotive shop held a fundraiser. “I don’t know what I’d do—the community has been so good to my family,” Barry told Graham.
Mike visits his brother regularly. “He’s starting to get feeling and movement back little by little,” says Mike. “He needs to focus
on healing, and I need to run the shop.
I love our customers. They’re more than just people who walk through the door—they’re like family. They proved it and supported us through the pandemic. They proved it again when Barry was injured.”
Here’s wishing Barry a complete recovery so he can get back to the business he loves.
Hobart Rowland Editor-in-Chief
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6 THE HUNT MAGAZINE winter 2023-24
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