A Friendly Type of Barber

By: Adam McCormack
Posted In: Entertainment

Newport is a city full of culture and is deeply routed in American history. Many tourists visit Newport to see mansions such as the Breakers, the Elms, or the Marble House. Others come during the summer to enjoy the beaches, the sailing, and the gorgeous Cliff Walk. There are some businesses and people in Newport that do not always make it to the cover of tourist magazines, however, but are still part of every day life.

Baccari’s Barber shop, located near the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Memorial Drive, is one of those businesses. Since the 1970s, Ken Louro has been cutting hair. In those 26 years, his career has changed quite a bit. Louro began as an assistant and worked at that for four and a half years before starting his own shop. For the past six years, he has occupied a small shop on Bellevue, one of the busiest streets in the city. Unlike many of the mansions and other historical landmarks, Baccari’s stays open all year.

Louro was born and raised in Massachusetts. He lives with his wife. They have
12 children: two girls and 10 boys. They range in age from 23 to 43.

How old are you?

(Sigh) 60.

Tell me about your family. Do you have any kids?
12.

What?

I don’t mess around.

Is it east to enter the business you are in?

Yeah, it’s not that bad.

Did you always want to own your own business, or did you intend to have partners?

In this shop here I was a fellow’s partner for four and a half years. After that I just took over.

How hard is it to maintain it?

No, you just have to be good. If you’re not good at what you do, you won’t have any customers. That’s the name of the game. People have to like you.

Do you intend to stay in the business for a while?

Yeah, probably.

How much do you charge for a haircut?

Well, it all depends on the customer. They range from children’s cuts (which are) $6 to adults which range from $7 to $10.

Do you get a lot of Salve students?

Yeah, but I guess you get kids on campus cutting hair, trying to make a few extra bucks.

Newport is a very popular area. What do you think about Newport in general?

Yeah, it’s interesting. There’s always something to do. I feel there’s more good people in the city of Newport than any of the surrounding communities.

What about during the summer? Is it a whole different atmosphere?

Yeah. I keep my chair outside. I just want people to know we’re here. I just want the ladies to know that Baccari’s Barber Shop will soon take over.

What do you think about chains such as SuperCuts or Haircuts Ltd.?

Well, the main thing with those places is that if you want a lousy haircut, you go there. If you want a good haircut, you go to a guy that’s been in business for a long time. SuperCuts is like a meat factory, you never get the same barber.

You once mentioned a barber who sold you his supplies. Could you explain?

He had like six months to live so he was getting rid of his stuff. He made last rites and sold everything.

What’s with the DVD’s? Do you just collect?

When it gets slow here I watch them. If customers come in and they want to borrow them I let them borrow them, and they bring them back.

So it’s an “honors system”?

Yeah. Pretty much.

I’m judging by these posters; are you a big Patriots fan?

Patriots. Red Sox. Any New England team I support. If it’s a local team, I sponsor them; I root for them.