From a very young age, Robert Dello Russo knew he would become a Master Barber. After all, he started honing his craft in Boston’s North End when he was just 12 years old. What he never could have known is that he would attract the attention of numerous celebrities who would come for a haircut and stay for a tattoo.
In 2007, Dello Russo purchased a former watch repair shop/travel agency location in the North End and transformed it into a barber shop. Soon after that, Boston Barber & Tattoo Co. was created.
“At first, there was only one chair in the shop, but then I kept adding more,” he said in a recent phone interview. “We have been tattooing 13 of the 17 years we have been open.”
How did he come up with the idea to open a barber shop, tattoo parlor and coffee shop in one location?
“Tattoos were on the up and coming when we decided to open,” Dello Russo said. “I had to go before multiple Boards for approval. They were very strict on how things look because they wanted to keep the integrity of the neighborhood. We became the first and only tattoo shop in the North End. In 2005, Starbucks was becoming huge around here. I grew up in the North End around coffee shops, but Starbucks made coffee fancy for everyone. When people would come in for a haircut and there was a wait, they would leave to go grab a cup of coffee. Some wouldn’t come back, so I thought, how cool would it be to have all these things under one roof?”
The 47-year-old now has a staff of 10 Master Barbers, nine tattoo artists and four operations employees. The shop also includes a full-service coffee bar to make it easy for patrons to grab a coffee or espresso.
“The barber shop looks more like a cigar lounge,” he said. “It’s beautiful. We ended up taking over a former nail shop on the second floor where the tattoo shop is now located. We are proud to be the first tattoo shop to open in Boston. It was illegal for 86 years until the ban was lifted in 2000.”
Since opening the tattoo parlor, Dello Russo quickly gained a celebrity following.
“It all started with Milan Lucic of the Boston Bruins,” he said. “He was the first one to come and get a tattoo. We have tattooed almost all of them since 2011. When they won the Stanley Cup that year, they brought it to the shop. It was incredible. I have to give Lucic a lot of credit because he plugged me everywhere. He knew he was helping me, and I could see that. I am still close friends with him today.”
In addition to Bruins legends Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron, Dello Russo’s shop has attracted stars from the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots and some of the biggest names in entertainment.
“Jonathan Papelbon has been here,” he said. “Jakobi Meyers got a full leg sleeve. Reebok contacted me because they wanted to do a cross promotion with Conor McGregor and his Proper 12 whiskey, so we cut his hair.”
What does Dello Russo think has been the secret to his success? “I have to attest to my artists,” he said. “They are amazing at their craft and great at social media. I think I have a good strategic way of picking out the right team. I make sure the artists know they are part of the family. I’m a hands-on owner. I’m not detached from my business. We have an extremely personal relationship with each other and that goes a long way. It’s all about your team. Once you find out what they are good at, you can make sure it operates correctly from there.”
As for his customers, Dello Russo wants to ensure they have a memorable experience whether stepping into the barber shop, café or tattoo parlor.
“You’re going to a beautiful place in the North End and it’s such a special neighborhood to be in,” he said. “The unsung heroes are our front desk people. It’s not easy dealing with people calling 100 times, coming in to see things 1,000 times and then not getting the tattoo, but that’s the nature of the business.”
In addition to his North End location, Dello Russo also owns and operates a second Boston shop in Beacon Hill. “That location has been in business since 1927 where John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy would get their hair cut each week,” he said. “That location is just a barber shop.”
While Dello Russo is not a tattoo artist, he admits he has been artistic his entire life. “I am a barber by trade, but I have always been ahead of the curve with style,” he said. “I knew I wanted to do something completely different, and it worked despite what people told me. It has all brought me to where I am today.”
