21-02-2025
DuBois barber shop to close after 4 decades of service
CLEARFIELD COUNTY (WTAJ) – A DuBois barber shop is closing its doors in June, after decades of service to customers.
Toni Kulbacki is deciding to close her shop, Toni Kulbacki Barber Shop, after nearly 41 years. She plans to retire and spend her free time with her family, but says her clients will always have a special place in her heart.
'So I have clients that come every two, three or four weeks and some of them have become family. Like it's not just a haircut, it's not just a client that comes in and you cut their hair. They become part of your life and that has been the hardest decision for me,' Kulbacki said.
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Kulbacki posted on social media at the beginning of February to let the community know she's retiring. She was stunned to see the response from customers and the community, but one comment really stood out.
'When I did post it out there that I was selling my shop and it got to be the public knowledge, there were some people that made comments, and one of them was a young girl. Her parents were deaf, and she said of all the businesses she remembered as a child, it was mine because I welcomed her parents and I sign. So for them it was like she said they were just part of you, and to this day, her dad is still part of my shop and more of a friend, you know, than just a client,' Kulbacki said.
She said helping out her clients is one of her proudest accomplishments.
'I would have to say just being able to service the people of the area, small towns are important. To me, that was the best part of being downtown because the businesses work with each other and you might have a client come in and they're like, well, I can't pay till Friday. I'm like, whatever. Like my biggest word is whatever. And I have friends that will tell you, I'm going to put it on a shirt because it's like, it's not about the money at that point. Covid hit us hard, covid hit this industry hard, but you desocialized in that time frame. And so now, like we're back and it's just so nice to have your clients back, your people back,' Kulbacki said.
Kulbacki said she will continue to give haircuts but they won't be at the shop. The shop is set to close June 30th.
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