Earlier this year, local businesses across the state paused operations as a matter of public health in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those businesses was Barbershop Jack, a fixture in the North Phoenix community. “It was a simple matter of priorities,” says owner Don Benaglio. “And topping the priority list is the health of our customers, staff, and the community.”
For the seven weeks their doors were shut, the crew at Barbershop Jack spent time with their respective families. Benaglio says that his team experienced the same ups and downs as other families across the state. While they found the extra time with loved ones to be a blessing, home quarantine was not without its challenges. They hunted for toilet paper and hand sanitizer. They changed the way they buy groceries. And the time away from the gym might have added a few extra pounds on the scale. The barbers also realized just how much they missed seeing friends, neighbors, and clients.
Following Governor Doug Ducey’s announcement authorizing the reopening of barbershops and hair salons, their doors opened once again for haircuts and shaves. (Plans are in the works for reintroducing their full complement of offerings, including spa services and teeth whitening). There was some initial concern about whether clients would come back after the lockdown ended. Not only did their clients return, but they also made a big statement: Barbershop Jack was just voted Best Barbershop in the Valley for 2020. More than 400,000 votes were cast during the “Best Of” voting process.
“Simply humbling,” Benaglio says. “To be recognized by so many individual people throughout the Valley is a fantastic honor. We’ve always known we have the best barbers in the world. It’s encouraging to see that so many others agree.”
Moving forward in a post-quarantine world, Barbershop Jack is committed to following all CDC guidelines. Additionally, they are utilizing enhanced protocol for cleaning, sanitization, and safe social distancing in their shop, which includes:
• Daily health and wellness checks of each staff member
• Enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols
• In-shop social distancing
• Providing masks for barbers and customers
These enhancements have allowed Barbershop Jack to remain open and maintain a safe environment. To minimize the number of people in the shop at the same time, they are currently operating by appointment only. Book online at BarbershopJack.com.
Barbershop Jack is a locally owned small business, owned and operated by Don and Jill Benaglio. The shop is located at 5450 East High Street in Phoenix. Call 602-441-4607 to learn more.
