Lakeville Barber Shop Maintains Small Town Charm

It's hard not to get caught up in a little history when you walk through the doors of Mohn's Barber Shop in Downtown Lakeville. Like a time capsule that was never stashed, the 51-year old establishment and community fixture is filled with reminders and mementos from days past.

The iconic spinning barber poles that guide you to the doors are your first clue that you're in for a traditional barber shop experience when you visit . The guys in white inside that recognize customers by name and flash smiles to familiar faces passing by the large picture window confirms it.

"Get on over here, Dave," Bud Mohn calls to one of those familiar faces as he finishes prepping the chair. "You're up."

A Lakeville native, Mohn opened his downtown barber shop in 1959 after being drafted while at St. Olaf College in Northfield and serving in the Army during the Korean War. He was an M24 Chaffee tank driver during that conflict and decided to attend barber school following his service rather than go back to college. A miniature replica of the tank along with a black and white photo of Mohn and the tank crew can be seen from the barber chair.

Always one to chat, Mohn wasn't bashful about talking about his years in Lakeville. "He can talk," said a freshly finished customer with a laugh as he was leaving.

"I had an uncle who was a barber in Faribault and I suppose that's where I first got interested in doing it," recalls Mohn.

After stints working in Northfield and Faribault, Mohn set up his Lakeville shop in the then Gephart Furniture building. A faded 1936 news clipping in the corner that announces the first air mail delivery to Lakeville still reveals the face of Ed M. Sauser, the original shop's owner.

"I had a little rented space there and then moved down to the south end of downtown," he said. "There was a mechanic shop in the back of that place and a dry cleaner with a flower shop. After that place, I moved across the street for about ten years." Mohn moved into his current location in the Post Office building in 1988.

"I worked alone for the first 40 years," says Mohn. The shop is now also home to Tom Rice and Tracy Henry in addition to Mohn who still works Fridays and Saturdays. In keeping with Mohn's military background, Rice and Henry are veterans of the Navy and Marine Corps respectively.

The magazine rack, an essential part of any barber shop, is filled with classic airplane magazines that entertain waiting customers with articles on P-51 Mustangs and the Battle of Britain. Hunting, fishing and golfing magazines are also well represented and reflect the strong outdoor experiences that all three barbers actively pursue while not behind the chair.

The conversation in the shop on this day ranged from the recent snow to tales of warmer climates from patrons either returning from, or leaving for, places that didn't involve shovels. Fire hydrants, ice cover on the lakes and car heaters also took their turn in the fluid flow of barber shop chatter. The Hudson Hornet was fondly remembered.

Through more than 50 years of trimming, cutting and clipping, Mohn has a difficult time singling out an incident that stands out as the oddest or most memorable. "There's been so many," he says with a grin. "I'll tell you the dumbest thing I've done, though. I used to have this solid oak barber chair in the back of my shop years ago. I wasn't using it so I donated it to an auction. A few years ago I saw that same chair come up for sale in an advertisement. It went for fifty thousand."

He paused for a moment as that statement settled in over the busy shop and raised more than one eyebrow. "I'd love to have that chair in here now."

Even though Lakeville has grown up and expanded considerably since Mohn first opened his doors, the personable service and small, hometown feel still resonates within the four walls of his barber shop. Those qualities have remained a constant through the years no matter the location and have helped to sustain the business through the years and earn it a large and faithful following.

"I used to work for seventy-five cents or a dollar," he recalls again. "I had a shop about the same size and rent was forty-five dollars a month. That included heat and rent."

The tossing of that fact into the air created another lively round of conversation amongst the regulars. "And we used to live just as well," Mohn contributed to the new discussion a few moments later.

 "A can of beans used to be nine cents," he added. "Now you have to pay about seventy-nine cents. Ain't that something!"