Carlos’s Barbershop (formerly Dolcetti’s Shoe Repair)

_____

In the 1960s, it would

sometimes seem like

there were a hundred

pairs of shoes ready

for pick up at the repair

shop on the corner

of Main & John Sts.

It’s proprietor, Lou

Dolcetti, had followed

his father’s lead,

becoming the family’s

second shoemaker

in that many generations.

One thing often recalled

about that shop:

Louie’s “glass bubble”

vending machine, one

that dispensed pistachio

nuts. After eating a

handful of these, a kid’s

finger tips might

stay red for two days!

More importantly, Lou

is fondly remembered

by many for waving

to children as they were

walking to or from

Pierson School.

And sometimes–while

their parents were

working–he would

watch children in the

shop. The doors on the

marble stalls (used for

changing shoes) would

start to slam, but Lou

was never known to get

upset, no matter how

long such bedlam

continued. He might have

looked up from his work,

but I bet he didn’t miss

a beat!