How a Vancouver barbershop has become a Main Street mainstay for over 10 years

A Vancouver barbershop recently celebrated 10 years in business, becoming a community pillar on a busy Main Street that has seen many shops come and go.

Paulie’s Barbershop, located at 4326 Main St., is in the Little Mountain Neighbourhood. Paulie’s has not only been a successful business but has also become a big part of the community. The shop celebrated its 10th anniversary this past December.

Running a business in any city can be an arduous task, but running one in Vancouver, with its high property taxes and rent, is another story altogether.

The man behind the ongoing success is Paul Donnici, but the journey hasn’t been without its challenges.

Donnici moved to Vancouver in the summer of 2010, after a 10-year stint in Montreal, where he was working as a bartender.

Donnici told Daily Hive he had a moment when things shifted.

“I woke up, and I was almost 30 years old,” he said.

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How it all started

“My last couple of years in Montreal, I was going to New York a lot,” that was in the late 2000s, Donnici said. He got into men’s fashion and some of the shops the city offered, which felt like a Portland vibe on the East Coast to him.

He’d also go down to New York to get his hair cut.

Through a contact he had in Montreal, he got his start at Belmont on Quebec and Broadway in Vancouver, and that’s where he met his wife, Molly.

He didn’t have much business experience, but Molly did, which he calls the catalyst.

“I think I’ve been good at garnering customers and making friends and keeping them, but she’s the one who implemented all the systems and all the retail aspects.”

Challenges and surviving COVID

Having someone like Molly has proved crucial, especially in the neighbourhood Paulie’s Barbershop is located in. The number of businesses that have come and gone since Paulie’s opened is almost countless.

Donnici says he feels “fortunate” despite seeing around a 40 per cent increase in the cost of running the business since they started it.

One of the biggest trials was surviving COVID. Barbershops were allowed to operate under Phase 2 of B.C’s reopening plan, with certain protocols in place.

“We were just so happy to be able to stay open and keep all our staff. We were one of the first businesses to reopen.”

Donnici said that while business flatlined a bit, it didn’t dip down.

“I’m grateful for that. I think it’d be a very different story if I had to manage four shops.”

It was also an interesting place to be during that time from the standpoint of social interaction. After being forced into isolation and staying at home, a barbershop or salon was one of the few places you could come out and talk to other people in person, albeit with a mask on.

“I think back on that, the most stressful parts of that were trying to access and process all the information that was coming out, and being able to relay it to the staff.”

Speaking of staff, Donnici attributes a lot of the success to the people around him, including his talented colleagues, some of whom have been with him almost the entire journey.

“The One with the Dog in the Doorway”

You can’t talk about Paulie’s Barbershop without talking about Stella, the unsung hero of the establishment.

On Paulie’s website, the quote, “The One with the Dog in the Doorway,” is proudly featured.

If you’re looking for a new place to get your haircut, it can sometimes feel intimidating to walk into a spot full of strangers, particularly some of the stiffer male-oriented barbershops. However, when a cute little Cairn Terrier who loves belly rubs is waiting at the entrance, it’s almost an invitation in.

Donnici said that people recognize Stella, and she’s a reason for folks to take time out of their day to stop by for a chat. She’s also helped to soften the shop’s image.

“Best Hood, Feel Good” has been a slogan for Paulie’s Barbershop. It’s hard to argue that the Main Street area is one of the best hoods in Vancouver, and “feel good” embodies the vibe inside the barbershop.

It’s laid back, conversational, there’s always music playing, occasionally some baseball or hockey on the TV, the decor is bright and welcoming, and again, Stella. It’s all therapeutic and not so old school and rigid like some of the other barbershops that primarily cater to men in Vancouver. Paulie’s Barbershop welcomes all ages and genders, and the folks cutting your hair also come from all ages, backgrounds, and genders.

“She’s slowing down a lot,” Donnici said of Stella. She recently lost an eye, and Donnici said he doesn’t look forward to the day when they lose the pup.

He joked about putting a stuffed animal his daughter has that looks like Stella in the shop’s window when that day comes, but for now, we’ll just pretend Stella will be around for belly rubs forever.

How a decade has changed Main Street

Main Street has changed so much in a decade. It is now home to more high-end establishments, like Published on Main, which was recognized by Michelin. It also features new high-end coffee shops like Forecast and Foglifter. There are new thrift stores and new fast-food spots.

On the other hand, lots of places have closed, only lasting as memories, like The Foundation, which closed in 2017.

We asked Donnici about the changes he has witnessed and if there are any spots he misses.

“I can name a few food places, mainly because we’re always looking for good lunch.”

One of those spots is Don’t Argue Pizzeria, which shut down to become a short-lived vegan spot, Pizzeria Grano.

Donnici also mentioned a spot that’ll jostle some nostalgia for folks who’ve lived in Vancouver for a while: Splitz Grill.

Remember Splitz, the burger joint? It closed in 2019.

He also reminded us of Nineteen Ten and Vincent Park, which he called “two staples of this block that are gone now.”

Vincent Park still has an online presence.

While we share news about closures of restaurants and major retailers on a semi-frequent basis, it will hopefully offer some assurance that many Main Street shops are still around, thriving and continuing to build legacies and mark their place in Vancouver’s history. Places like Welk’s, Front + Co, Red Cat Records, Collage Collage, and “The One with the Dog in the Doorway.”

Do you have a favourite business on Main Street? Chime in, in the comments.