When you think of what you can purchase for $1 dollar the list is extremely small and 
purchasing a family heirloom seems almost unimaginable but that is exactly what Joe Caccavella Sr. did in 1968. Now, 45 years later Joe’s Barber Shop in Chicago stands as a testament to a family tradition.
The Caccavella family comes from a long lineage of barbering that can be traced back to Joe Sr.’s father Victor in Italy. Victor’s children were raised in the shop, “when my father and older siblings would get out of school they would go straight to the barber shop to help out before heading home as a family,” says Joe Jr. In 1955 the family came to Chicago although they relocated the barbering craft was not left behind.
Two of Victor’s sons followed in their father’s footsteps and became barbers, the eldest Rocco and Joe Sr. The shop Rocco owned in downtown Chicago had only one chair and was in business for 53 years.
In 1968 at the ripe age of 21 Joe Sr. ended up at Sam’s Barber Shop on the corner of 
Fullerton & California in the Logan Square Neighborhood. The shop was established in the 1920’s and according to Joe Jr. “(the shop) was heavily involved in the Italian organized crime scene.” The barber shop had been around for 40 years when Joe Sr. came on board. It wasn’t long before Sam the Barber took a liking to Joe Sr. and sold him the shop for the astonishingly low price of $1, “it wasn’t a issue of money for Sam” who hung around the shop “for the last years of his life.” The shop’s name was changed to Joe’s Barber Shop and remained in the same location for 17 more years but in 1985 they moved two blocks east on Fullerton.
Not much has changed in the shop. The three Paidar barber chairs date from the early 1900’s and the waiting chairs are from the 1940’s with many more authentic items in the shop. The shop is an original and they are not trying to achieve vintage, “the chairs in our shop were purchased used when my grandfather (Victor) opened up his shop when 
he came from Italy” says Joe Jr.
More importantly the barbering craft and philosophy has remained in the family with second and third generation working side by side. Joe Sr. and Jr. are very much alike but there are many lessons to be learned. One thing that was instilled into Joe Jr. is “take people for what they are. Treat everyone the same, and favor no-one.” At 67 years young Joe Sr. is living the true barber life and still works 4 days a week.
The family tradition is taken very seriously and is not based in a fad, “the shop’s approach to cutting hair is simple, give the customer a solid/quick/ no B.S. haircut HE wants.” Don’t worry, they will not spin you around after they are done and tell you that you got what you wanted, because they will check with you once or twice to make sure you approve of the progress. Careful attention is paid to the desired cut with decades of knowledge being employed.
Along with haircuts the shop also offers traditional straight razor shaves and grooming products. Recently the shop has made an interesting decision by only carrying small business grooming products, “we being a family owned business, its our job to support other small run/local business the best we can”, says Joe Jr. The decision is calculated and has earned them respect in the community.
The shop is walk in only and has been that way since 1968. If you decide to murmur about the wait keep it to yourself. According to Joe Sr., “It took ya 9 months to be born, and 
you can wait an hour or so…for a haircut.” Don’t expect to get your hair washed either because “if a customer wants his hair washed after the cut he can take care of that at home.”
The priceless heirloom that exists at Joe’s Barber Shop is not found in the Paidar chairs but resides within the 2nd and 3rd generation barbers that are maintaining a craft and family tradition. Although the tradition started in Italy the Caccavella barbers have followed in their forefather’s footsteps and are making an impact in their community and families. Joe Sr.’s $1 investment has become priceless due to the hard work and dedication instilled in the Caccavella men.
Joe’s Barber Shop
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