Oak Brook barber has been stylin’ for 50 years at the mall

Joe Guido is 70 but looks like most men hope they look at 50. He moves smoothly, with his impeccable, silver hair, and it’s not hard to imagine him in a black evening jacket playing baccarat in Monaco with that English guy who drinks his martinis shaken, not stirred.

Guido is quite possibly the most interesting barber in the world.

The Wheaton resident owns the Oak Brook Barber Salon, located in the Oakbrook Center Professional Building on the Concourse Shops Level. This year, the salon is celebrating its 50th anniversary and Guido’s salon was one of the first retailers at Oakbrook Center since the Center opened in 1962.

Guido is proud to list as his regular customers many movers and shakers.

“We get mainly business people. I get a lot of doctors, CEOs, corporate people,” he said. For that reason, the conversation is always interesting to the man who started cutting hair back in his Taylor Street neighborhood when he was 17.

Starting out as the Arcade Barbershop in the 1960s, Guido turned to specialty men’s hairstyling in 1972. His clientele grew as one of the first hair stylists in the area, and certainly in the mall locale.

Elegant green, leather chairs and the obligatory stack of magazines on a table can be found in the waiting area in the front of the shop. Library-motif wallpaper covers one wall. Behind the wall are several barber chairs and sinks, and Guido performs his magic in the first seat.

This is a barber shop from central casting, where a man can get his shoes shined, a manicure, a haircut and facial, and a hot lather shave. This is Guido’s domain.

“I’m here every day Tuesday through Saturday, but we’re open seven days a week,” he said. “It’s been that way for 12 years now.”

While so many are losing their hair fretting over whether or not they can retire at 55, the man with the silver main loves to come to work each day.

He said he’s truly blessed.

“I love what I do,” Guido said. “I like dealing with people. I’m a people person.”

About Joe Guido
JOB Owner of the Oak Brook Barber Salon
RESIDENCE Wheaton
EDUCATION New Way Barber College on Madison Street, Chicago
FAMILY Wife, Barbara; daughters, Gigi and Nikki; son, Joey
INTERESTS Working out. "I go to the gym three days a week," Guido said.
NOTABLE Guido is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the salon this year.