Four Generations of Barbers

Brian McGarry carries on family tradition in Crosslake

Courtesy of the Pine and Lakes Echo Journal
Katie Anderson – Staff Writer
12/22/2010

Brian McGarry, a master barber, recently opened McGarry’s Barber Shop in Crosslake. He is a fourth generation barber and is excited to be opening a real barbershop in Crosslake.

Brian McGarry’s family has been barbering since the late 1800s. It all started with Brian’s great-grandfather, John Jerry McGarry.

Being a fourth generation McGarry to pursue a career as a barber, you could say that barbering is in Brian McGarry’s blood. “You could say that I was born into the business,” he said.

McGarry recently opened McGarry’s Barber Shop in the Crossroads Center in Crosslake.

Although he just recently opened his shop, McGarry’s journey with barbering began long ago.

It all started with his great-grandfather, John Henry McGarry.

John Henry became a barber in the late 1800s to work his way through college, and he became a printer. Most of his children became printers as well, but not Brian’s grandfather, John Thomas McGarry, who attended Moler Barber School in Fargo in the 1930s.

Brian said it was his grandfather who really took being a barber to a whole new level.

“He joined the Navy and cut hair. He went to Seattle and worked on Merchant Marine ships cutting hair. He cut hair in Alaska in the 1940s and also spent time as a commercial fisherman, fight promoter and bootlegger. He had 20 barbers working for him in his three barber shops on air bases. He was quite an entrepreneur,” Brian said.

Brian McGarry’s family has been barbering since the late 1800s. It all started with Brian’s great-grandfather, John Jerry McGarry.

Although John Thomas McGarry branched out and had many different types of businesses, he always came back to barbering. “He would always come back to barbering. That was what made everything else possible for him,” Brian said.

The third generation of McGarrys to go into the family business was Brian’s dad, Patrick McGarry. Patrick attended the Moler Barber School in 1961 in Fargo and took over John Thomas’ barbershops on the air bases.

Brian said his dad is still doing what he loves and has two barbershops in North Dakota.

“My dad knew he wanted to be a barber when he was 6. His whole life he has done what he loves to do,” Brian said.

But growing up in Grand Forks, Brian never really thought about pursuing the career of a barber.

“My mom was a beautician, and she and my dad had shops right down the hall from each other. I would hang out at the shops a lot, but I thought I wanted to be something more exciting like an actor or a race car driver,” Brian said.

Brian spent time working as a truck driver and a salesman. A few years ago, he decided he wanted to go back to school for a new profession. That was when he made a decision that brought him to where he is now.

He decided to go into the family business.

“Barbers are a dying breed. The good ol’ barbershops that are somewhere men can go and be at ease to spend time talking and just shoot the breeze are really a dying breed. I wanted to keep on with that great tradition,” Brian said.

As his grandfather and father before him, Brian attended Moler Barber School, but he attended the school in Minneapolis.

Although he had never purposefully paid attention while he dad was working, Brian thinks he must have picked up some of his knowledge.

“When I went to school I had never cut hair, and I took to it like fish to water. My teacher said that I was born to be a barber. I guess I just watched my parents do it so much that I just absorbed it,” Brian said.

He attained his master barber license after attending school, spending a year as an apprentice under a master barber, and successfully passing a physical and written test.

Brian worked in the Cities for a few years, and then he and his wife, Beth, decided they wanted to move their family to the lakes area.

Brian has been living in the area for about two months on Upper Hay Lake, and he has been working nights at the Pine River Holiday Station.

When he came to the area, Brian did a lot of research and he heard from locals that Crosslake hasn’t had a barber in approximately 26 years.

“I felt like I would be embraced, and I have been so far by this community. Lots of people have stopped in and they are so happy to have a barbershop in town again. I have some old guys who come in just to talk. It’s really been great,” Brian said.

Brian has pictures of the four generations of McGarry barbers hanging in his shop, and he is happy with his choice of professions.

“I feel proud to carry on the tradition. I understand now the passion that my grandfather and dad have for barbering. I have that now, too,” Brian said.

If you are interested in stopping in for a first-come, first-serve, traditional barbershop experience, or just to shoot the breeze, Brian has his shop open Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Part of the romance is to sit and talk with people while you wait. That’s what a barbershop is supposed to be,” Brian said.

McGarry’s Barber Shop is located next door to Edina Realty in Crosslake. For more information, give Brian a call at 218-330-4000.