Puttin\' on the Ritz

An old-fashioned, candy-cane swirl barber pole marks the entrance to the Ritz Barber Salon, tucked between Greetings and the White Mountain Ice Creamery at 105 N. Dunn St. \nOwner Larry Perry, 59, is in the front of his narrow shop, spinning customer David Beecham around in his chair to get a close trim along the sides of his hair. \nA faint but pervasive medicinal smell seeps through the shop from a glass bottle of the mysterious blue comb-cleaning liquid, officially known as "germicidal disinfectant."\nBeecham's well-polished dress shoes poke out the bottom of the maroon, oversized bib that's catching the dark gray and silver hairs drifting to the floor and his neckline. Perry grabs his large, wood-handled hair duster and relieves Beecham's neckline of stray clippings.\nPerry is well-practiced at the art of mane management -- he has been a barber for 35 years and is a member of what he claims to be a dying profession. \nHe said his decision to become a barber was primarily influenced by his cousin, Harold Perry, who told him there would be a position available at his shop if Perry went through barber school after high school. \nAfter becoming certified, Perry worked as both a barber and manager for Harold and bought the company from him five years ago. \nHe has a picture hanging by his work station mirror, displaying a sketch of the barber shop when it was located in the Von Lee theatre for 40 years before the business moved in 1983.\nHis work station is supplied with only the barest essentials and is considerably less cluttered than beauty salons. Everything about the shop is based on practicality instead of aesthetic appeal, and it is clearly the work of a minimalist.\nPerry's uniform consists of a faded aqua polo, khakis and light brown leather shoes. His only accessories are a gold watch band and large, square glasses and his hair and nails are both impeccably trimmed.\nRegardless of the decorating scheme or dress code, whatever Perry is doing with his store and for his customers seems to be working.\n"I come back because Larry's the best in Bloomington," Beecham said. "I've come here for eight years, and I also have several friends who come here and nowhere else. Larry's the man."\nBeecham's 10-year-old son, Michael, has also been going to Perry for the past eight years, ever since he needed a booster seat to prop him up in the chair. \nChildren are dwarfed by the massive leather barber chairs, which were originally designed to cater to barbers' double-purpose as hair stylist and surgeon in the 1500's.\nMichael doesn't know if he'll carry on the tradition of going to Larry -- the non-surgeon breed of barber -- but said his biggest incentives for going are the reading materials and getting to watch whatever's on television -- which is typically sports. \nHe also likes tapping into Perry's not-so-secret stash of suckers after his visit. After fishing around in his right pocket, he reveals the catch of the day to be watermelon and cherry Charms pops.\nPerry said he has customers of all ages and keeps current with trends by keeping an eye on what's going on in popular culture.\n"(Customers) usually come in and say what they want," Perry said. "They'll explain it, show me a picture, or say 'do you know so-and-so on TV?'"\nPerry is also current with the latest shop gossip, which he said can frequently be heard floating about. \n"Most guys come in every three to four weeks, so you really get to know each one of them," Perry said. "You hear just about everything. I've been known to give a little advice -- most times they'll even ask me for it."\nWhen asked whether he ever spills the beans, he flushed and laughed.\n"I've been known to pass (gossip) on," Perry said. "It'd be a lie if I told you differently."\nEven if Perry sometimes has a case of loose lips, his customers and employees are his biggest fans.\n"He's the nicest guy I ever worked for," said Gene Sepiol, Perry's newest employee. "He's the easiest-going guy I know. Whatever makes us happy makes him happy."\nWhat also makes Perry happy is gardening and watching sports on his days off. Perry said all employees get Sunday off as a break, to go to church and because it used to be a state law that barber shops couldn't be open.\nEven though his business and customers are well-established, Perry is always looking for ways to improve. He is currently trying to fill the void left by recently-removed tanning beds with a possible masseuse or manicurist station. \nAccording to barberpole.com, many barber shops have turned to this blending of salon luxuries with old-fashioned barber shop services to entice not only customers, but workers as well.\nStylists have abandoned the male-dominated and -oriented profession of the barber in favor of unisex salons where pay is higher due to more expensive styling requests.\nWhile barberpole.com said many men prefer barber shops, Perry has seen a change in clients' attitudes towards salons.\n"There may have been a stigma on salons a while ago, but I think it's more accepted now," Perry said. "Especially with the younger, college-aged kids who grew up in a unisex, salon atmosphere -- they think differently than older guys do."\n"Barber shops are going to be a thing of the past soon. It's out. Twenty years ago, there were probably double the number of barber shops than there are now."\nHe said his business is currently flourishing -- particularly with the influx of students -- but they're short-handed and struggling to find barbers, because there have been very few people going to barber school. \nEven though he's making up for the disappearance of barbers, Perry said he still loves his job. \n"I get kind of burnt out on (cutting hair) sometimes," Perry said. "But I enjoy talking to all the different people that come in. You get to meet people from all over the campus, country and world"