‘Tough goodbye’ for family-owned barbershop closing after 67 years 

It’s the end of an era for one local barbershop in Oakville. The family who owns it says after cutting hair for 67 years they are closing due to lack of parking for their customers.

Heaney’s Barber and Hairstyling has been the go-to spot for many in Oakville looking for a fresh trim or a new hairdo, but the Heaney family has made the hard decision to close.

Jackie Heaney said the close is bittersweet.

“We know it’s the right thing to do, but it’s very difficult to do. We love Bronte, we love our neighbours, we love the shop. But we want to survive and that’s how we’re going to do it,” Heaney said.

READ MORE: Family worries for missing man from Oakville: ‘we are concerned’

The barber shop opened in 1956 when Heaney’s father Jack installed the barber pole in Bronte. The shop has been at this location for nearly 30 years and has maintained loyal clients along the way.

Heaney said a lack of parking has always been an issue and with new condo buildings going up, it’s going to be even more difficult for their clients, so they decided to sell.

“Parking is huge. We’re getting a lot of customers saying they can’t come to us and it’s heartbreaking when you pick the phone up and they say ‘I’ve come for 30 years, but I just can’t come anymore. I can’t find any parking,’” Heany said.

The Bronte BIA said in a statement that they have hundreds of free and paid parking spaces and encourage visitors to check out their brand new parking map.

The BIA also wishes Heaney the best of luck in the next chapter.

READ MORE: Crosstown trail in Oakville getting a $1M upgrade

Heaney says three of the hairstylists will be going to another local barbershop where there is plenty of parking.

Jack Heaney’s seven children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will all be gathering at the barber shop on Saturday where they will take down the barber pole and officially close up the barber shop.