Wellesley wonders: Where’s Larry the barber?

Larry’s Barber Shop at 153 Linden St. this week was cleared out inside and stripped of its barber pole outside —  and readers are asking what became of the business and longtime barber Larry Corda.

A neighboring business said Corda’s family came by Wednesday and cleared out the shop. Although Corda didn’t want to retire, the job had become physically difficult for him. The shop had not been open as regularly as usual of late.

“It’s really sad that Larry won’t be there anymore,” says Bedros Kaya, who operates Jimmy’s Cafe next door.

One reader wrote: “I went to him for haircuts for many years and sure will miss him. He was the last barber left who used a straight edge razor, and the back of my neck will never feel as clean again!,” the reader wrote.

The Townsman profiled Larry Corda and his family in 2006, and the story says Corda opened his first shop, originally across the street from his recent shop, in 1958 (thanks to JimF for sending along the link). The story says Corda rarely closed the shop over the years, except for occasional trips to Italy, where his family has its roots.

Here’s a Christian Science Monitor profile of Corda from 1989 that sheds more light on the barber and his philosophy on life, politics and money.

(Regulars: Feel free to share your thoughts in our comments section)

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