Pevely barber John Pashia said he has formed a lot of good friendships and heard a lot of good stories over the past several decades behind his barber’s chair.
On Tuesday, Pashia celebrated 50 years cutting hair in the same location – at John’s Pevely Barber Shop at 107 Main St., which he opened on Nov. 2, 1971.
The Pevely Board of Aldermen recognized Pashia and his long-running business by surprising him with a proclamation at its Monday meeting.
Pashia, 77, of Pevely, said he has no plans to retire, as long as he continues to enjoy good health.
“I love it,” he said. “That’s why I’m still here. I’ll keep on going until I can’t do it. People come in and socialize. They talk and drink coffee, tell stories. I’ve had a wonderful time here.”
Pashia learned his trade at Moler Barber College in downtown St. Louis after serving in the Army. He not only found a career while studying at Moler, but also a life partner
“While at barber school, I met the first lady to graduate from the barber school,” he said. “We dated and got married. Julia passed away 11 years ago.”
After establishing himself as a professional barber, Pashia and his wife bought the building in Pevely and opened their own barber shop.
The building originally had housed Pevely Bank and later a different barber shop, Pashia said.
“We bought the building at the beginning of 1971. We’d spend weekends fixing it up,” he said. “We lived in the upstairs about two and a half years. The building had been closed for a while before we bought it.”
Pashia said his father-in-law, Jim Politte, who owned a bar in Pevely, told him about the vacant building in Pevely.
“He suggested we open a barber shop here,” Pashia said.
He said he researched the building’s history and found some interesting information.
“It was built in 1906 for a bank,” he said. “It was a bank until 1955.
“In 1954, it got robbed for $40,174. That happened to be the St. Joe Lead Co. payroll. It made the bank think they needed something better than they had. They built a new building along Hwy. 61-67. It’s a church now.”
Pashia said when he and his wife lived in the building, Julia was on call to help with cutting hair during busy times.
“We had three barbers for several years,” he said. “I had a couple of people working for me. My wife would pitch in when needed.
“She was upstairs and would come down when I’d bang on the pipes.”
Pashia said Julia continued to help giving haircuts, even after having their first child. They eventually had four boys: James, John, Jason and Jarrod.
“We had a playpen down here for our baby.”
Pashia said he has had to adapt to changes in the industry.
“Barbering has changed over the years,” he said. “Longer hair hit the country right after I became a barber. So, longer cuts were in style.
“It’s always changing. Kids always want to follow the fads of the day.”
Pashia said that while he is happy to fulfill most customers’ requests, there is one haircut he has always refused to do.
“I don’t give them Mohawks,” he said. “I’d say, ‘You have to go somewhere else.’ That’s just a tough hair cut to do.”
He said his current customers generally want one of two haircuts.
“Probably, a little shorter all over is the most common,” he said. “Also, flattops.”
Among Pashia’s loyal clients is George Engelbach, a local politician from rural Hillsboro.
“For someone who’s been standing at the barber chair for more than 50 years, that’s quite an accomplishment,” Engelbach said. “He is great for the neighborhood. He always has a compliment. He’s just an asset to the community.
“I’ve tried to think how long I’ve been going there. It must be at least 30 years.”
Pashia recovered from a serious medical ailment to resume working as a barber.
“I had a stroke about eight years ago,” he said. “My goal was to be able to cut hair again and to go square dancing.”
Pashia proudly resumed both activities.
He said that John’s Pevely Barber Shop is open from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays through Saturdays.
For Pashia, work is entertaining.
“The social part of my career has been terrific,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot of stories in here over the years. I should have written a book.”