YELLOWKNIFE - The hum of clippers and the sounds of infectious laughter greets you at the door of a bustling barber shop in Centre Square Mall.

Gary’s Barber Shop is a piece of Yellowknife history that is still very much alive, even as it changes hands to its sixth owner. Proprietor Sidoni Frano has sold the business to employee-turned-owner Rosalie Jerace, known to most as Rose.

Outgoing proprietor Sidoni Frano, left, has sold Gary's Barber Shop to Rosalie Jerace. The shop has been in Yellowknife under various owners since 1947. - Amanda Vaughan/NNSL photo

The shop, which has been around since 1947, was bustling last Friday afternoon, which Frano says is one of their busiest days.

Sid Johnson, who was in for his regular trim, wished Frano farewell and good luck. Johnson has been getting his hair cut at Gary’s for 39 years.

“Every month,” he says matter-of-factly.

When Johnson started coming to the shop, it was run by Paul Turmer, and was called Paul’s Barber Shop. Johnson remembers Turmer, a Second World War veteran, as being a busy man who ran the shop entirely by himself, keeping customers’ attention with stories about the war.

“He ran it by appointment back then,” says Johnson, “and if you were 60 seconds late, you heard about it.”

After Turmer, the business was run by Gary Apted, who changed the name to Gary’s.

Frano, who was hired on by Gary after immigrating from Slovakia in 1985, remembers Apted as a friendly character, who was loved by his employees and customers alike.

Pictures depict history

There is a wall covered in pictures, showing Frano, Apted and other employees working in various Halloween costumes over the years, and some shots of long-time customers, Johnson among them.

Frano took over the business from Apted after five years of employment and another four years of partnership with him. She has now been working at Gary’s for 21 years, and is looking forward to semi-retirement in B.C.

She says she will miss Gary’s and Yellowknife very much.

“It’s good to work with people, I’ve had a very good time,” says Frano, “I have great co-workers; they are all excellent barbers.”

The sentiment is echoed by Bonnie Best, who has been working with Frano for the last nine years.

“It’s a fun shop to work for,” says Best. “She’s gonna make me cry before she goes, I just know it.”

Most of the shop’s five barbers have been around for at least three years, a testament to the relaxed, fun atmosphere considering Yellowknife’s large transient population.

And it’s not likely to change anytime soon.

“I don’t want to change anything,” says Jerace. She started at Gary’s in 2002, working there until she had a severe back injury that put her in a wheelchair for nearly two years. She hopes to return to full-time work soon.

“I miss it so much, sometimes it’s hard just to be in here,” she says as she looks around the shop.

The crew at Gary’s had a celebration on Saturday to wish Frano goodbye.

“I’m looking forward to gardening. It’s hard to do here,” she says with a chuckle.