Fred Salaz is continuing the barber shop tradition at Prout’s Corner.
The Northern Kentucky resident recently opened Prout’s Corner Barber Shop in the historic building at the corner of Glenway Avenue and Guerley Road.
“There has been a barber shop in this location since Prout’s Corner opened in 1929,” Salaz said.
Before Salaz opened his shop, the most recent shop to occupy the space was Lee’s Barber Shop, which operated there for about 30 years.
“I enjoy the challenge of it, and the people,” Salaz said. “I have really good customers and I enjoy helping people look better.”
He opened Prout’s Corner Barber Shop with longtime West Side barber Dino Cittadino, who was co-owner of Ahead By A Hair in Western Hills for decades.
Salaz said he cut hair with Cittadino for several years in the 1980s, and when Cittadino and his business partner Geoff Robbins retired at the end of last year and closed their shop, Salaz bought their equipment.
“I was planning to open a barber shop in Kentucky, but after Dino retired he wanted to continue working part-time,” Salaz said. “We opened this shop. Dino already had his clientele in the area and a lot of them are coming back.”
A native of New Mexico, Salaz came to Cincinnati and attended barber college after graduating from Eastern New Mexico University.
“An Army buddy of mine talked me into visiting Cincinnati and I stayed here for barber college,” he said. “I met my wife (Joy) when I was in barber college.”
He cut hair for a little while and then became a professional disc golfer, he said. He was inducted into the Disc Golf Hall of Fame in 2007.
“Work got in the way of my disc golf,” he said. “It was a hobby that turned into a profession and now it’s back to a hobby.”
Salaz said he took a 25-year break from working as a barber, but never let his certification expire. When he wasn’t touring the country as a professional disc golfer he owned and operated a disc golf pro shop in Mt. Airy. He said he also ran a film delivery business for 13 years.
He went back to his roots when the opportunity to open his own barber shop presented itself.
“My life has come full circle,” he said. “I’ve had a good life and I love what I’m doing.”
Prout’s Corner Barber Shop is at 4896 Guerley Road.
The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
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