Esquire Hair Salon, Salon For Men

April 2017 will mark the 45th anniversary of Esquire Hair Salon located on 434 Bridge Street. His story is like so many others but at the age of 72 his passion has not dwindled. At age 9 Vincenzo Licari, from Sicily Italy, began an apprenticeship and Palermo. He went to regular school in the mornings and spent his afternoons lathering customers faces with shaving cream. By age 10 Licari, started doing straight razor face shaves. Working 3 to 4 hours a day making a whopping 50 cents a week. In 1967 Licari and his family migrated from Sicily Italy to the United States of America. Upon his arrival he had completed barber school and is a master at his profession. At the age of 23, Licari had to learn English at night school and enroll in barber school for a second time. His barber license from Italy was no good here in the states. In his thick Italian accent he explains,"I took the state boards exam for barbering but had to use an interpreter. We missed 2 questions too many because we didn't understand them. So I went to the barber school in Detroit for 3 months." After finding out he had to re-enroll for the 3rd time he says, "I was very depressed and considered returning to Italy but I decided to hold on not to give up.... and I'm very glad I stayed." When he got to Detroit he said, "The school director couldn't understand why I was there, I already knew everything they could teach me." Finally Licari passed his exam and worked for a barber in Grand Rapids Michigan. For two years he would save enough money to open his very own shop in 1971." A Barber from Sicily" they have said of Licari. A title so deserving to this man that worked so hard and never gave up on the American Dream. The Esquire Hair Salon holds so much history. He has seen 45 years worth of changes on Bridge Street. Watching companies go in and out of business. He takes great pride in his success, Licari has added two men's specialist, Jairleen Zuiderveen and Sarah Spitler.