What keeps people coming to this Boonton barbershop after 65 years? Just ask the customers
Randi’s Corner Barber Shop is a staple.
For three generations, the shop has served Boonton not just by providing quality haircuts, but by serving as a place for the community to come together. With its 65th anniversary quickly approaching, the shop has become a hub where locals can connect with others, read the newspaper and have a cup of coffee.
“We would have people come in and sweep and just hang out,” said Randi Gaetano, the current owner of the Main Street barbershop. “This used to be where they played cards. You know, all good stuff.”
Gaetano has worked at the barbershop for 32 years, starting when she was just 18. She was mentored by the shop’s previous owners and learned the “old school” method of barbering.
In 2020, she bought the shop and took over, an event marked by a grand opening in February of that year.
“So many people came, and it was just so nice to have all the town supporting you,” Gaetano said. “The mayor was here. The sheriff was here. The senator was here. So it was like really, really nice.”
The passion the Boonton community has for the shop is what makes it stand out. Patrick Cabana, a regular, spoke highly of the quality of barbering Gaetano and previous owners have consistently provided.
“You're getting that same consistent quality haircut,” Cabana said. “They’ve been passing it down by training. You don’t see many businesses where they train like an apprenticeship.”
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Former Boonton residents have not forgotten their positive experiences with the place, either, even after they have moved away. Gaetano said one man makes the trip from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, every two months just for his routine haircut.
Members of the community have also taken note of the shop’s welcoming atmosphere — it's a space where people of all ages can stop in and have a positive experience. Adriane Selesky-Eoga took notice of Gaetano’s popularity within the community.
“She has the best reputation, even with little kids. They love her,” Selesky-Eoga said. “Little boys come in for their little haircuts and they all want Randi.”
Gaetano is equally passionate about the community, making sure the shop continues to have a positive impact on the people who have supported it for more than six decades. Jack Selesky recounted how when his wife was sick, Gaetano went to his house to cut her hair.
“That's what I like to do,” Gaetano said. “It's not about the money. It's about that they've been good to me. I want to be good back to them.”
One of the biggest challenges Gaetano has encountered since taking on ownership was the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the shop to switch to an appointment-based system instead of walk-ins, which it had always done.
This change in operation resulted in a pause in the typically buzzing energy of the shop. However, customers continued to support the Boonton landmark, with some even commenting that the appointment-based system limited the wait time.
With the 65th anniversary of the shop coming up, Gaetano hopes to find a way to properly celebrate the milestone. It is clear that no matter how she decides to mark the day, the community will be there to celebrate the multi-generational shop alongside her.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Randi's Corner Barber Shop in Boonton NJ hits 65th anniversary
