Longtime Sault barber shop leaving Station Mall

After helping Saultites to look their best for several decades, Oscar & Dario is bidding farewell to its long-time home in Sault Ste. Marie’s Station Mall.

The barber shop opened under its current name in the 1980s and was purchased by Monic and John Cvengros in 2014. They’ve been operating the business ever since.

But with the pressures of the current business climate – and some personal challenges – Monic decided it’s time to move on.

“I had to retire because of my … medical condition and all that,” she said. “So I think it’s time.”

Monic has a long history with the shop and its former owners.

“I did my high school hairdressing course here in Sault Ste. Marie and Dario was my teacher, my barber teacher,” she said.

The business is set to close June 22, and for the staff, there are mixed feelings.

“We’re pretty excited to keep going on with our journey, but we’re going to really miss this place,” said Megan Ubaldi, a stylist at Oscar & Dario.

“We’ll miss the mall and miss the Tim’s workers and everyone else that we see pop by and all the regulars that come in. But we’ll still see them when they come into our new shop.”

Ubaldi and her fellow stylist won’t be on the sidelines for long, as they will be moving on to Ezio’s Barber Shop on Great Northern Road.

John Cvengros, co-owner of Oscar & Dario, said he’s proud of the staff and considers it an honour to have helped maintain the legacy of Oscar & Dario.

“I just want a shout out to Oscar and Dario both for giving us the opportunity to keep the legacy going for another 10 years after, because if I didn’t buy the shop, me and my wife, they would have closed in 2014,” he said.

Those wanting to say goodbye to the old barber shop are encouraged to stop in for some cake June 22.