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New Barrington barbershop opens to a busy start

Longtime resident opens up Roots on Maple Avenue

By Josh Bickford
Posted 7/9/20

Roots barbershop is a throwback — a place where a good haircut is often paired with a great conversation, where people talk about what's going on around town and discuss the high school …

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Please support local news coverage –

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New Barrington barbershop opens to a busy start

Longtime resident opens up Roots on Maple Avenue

Posted

Roots barbershop is a throwback — a place where a good haircut is often paired with a great conversation, where people talk about what's going on around town and discuss the high school football team's chances this season.

That is exactly how Roots's owner, Matt Campagnone, has always wanted it to be.

The longtime Barrington resident opened Roots barbershop recently, filling a storefront on Maple Avenue just across from the intersection with Cottage Street.

Mr. Campagnone had long been considering opening his own barbershop. He had worked in the corporate world for years, but always dreamed that one day the opportunity would arise for him to trade his cubicle for a barber's chair.

"I've been waiting a long time," he said.

Mr. Campagnone decided to take the leap in December when he saw the location on Maple Avenue open up. The building — it originally played host to a gelato shop — was located close to County Road, offered off-street parking, and could be easily transformed into a barbershop, he thought.

He began moving ahead with his plan in January and February, but in March everything was put on hold. The business shutdown offered Mr. Campagnone an opportunity to make some last minute improvements to the barbershop. When the governor allowed barbers and stylists to open up, Mr. Campagnone discovered people were very eager to welcome the new business to town. The first two weeks of June were non-stop, Mr. Campagnone said.

"It was super-busy," he said. "It's still very consistent."

Mr. Campagnone shares the space with fellow barber Derek Toman, who had previously been working in a space in Bristol.

"It's a good dynamic," Mr. Campagnone said, of working with Mr. Toman. He said both barbers have different types of clientele, but often those people who are getting haircuts are able to quickly strike up conversations.

"I like people to be able to hang out … maybe make a connection," Mr. Campagnone said.

 

Overdue haircuts

The local barber said many people get their hair cut pretty regularly, maybe once a month or so. But the pandemic left a lot of people waiting three months before getting a cut.

Mr. Campagnone said a lot of folks were coming into Roots with hair down to their shoulders.

"They either want me to clean it up (and leave the length) or shave it off," he said. Either way is fine for Mr. Campagnone, but the longer hair often disguises the person's prior haircut style, he said. That leaves Mr. Campagnone with the added challenge of deciphering what that person wants to look like when walking out the door. Mr. Campagnone said he does not mind the challenge. He said he and Mr. Toman can accommodate all types of haircuts and all types of styles.

"I had a kid come in and ask for a 'fro-hawk' the other day," Mr. Campagnone said, adding that he also likes to trim in special designs. During football season, he cuts the New England Patriots' logo into his step-son's hair.

The variety that comes with cutting hair has been a welcome change for Mr. Campagnone, who said he could not picture himself working in a cubicle for the next 30 years of his life, staring at the same computer screen each day.

He said he is much happier working in his barbershop, meeting new people and sharing a nice conversation.

What is in a name?

Matt Campagnone said the name of his barbershop is all about Barrington. "I'm rooted in the community," he said. Mr. Campagnone grew up in Barrington, played sports in town, graduated from Barrington High School and built relationships here. Now he's raising his family in Barrington and owns a business here. His "Roots" are here, he said. "It's about be part of the community," he added.

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