Barber Mike Tabit: Cutting hair for 57 years
Mike Tabit has been a barber for 57 years, and for the past 52, he’s wielded his clippers at Dan’s Barber and Styling Salon on North Monroe Street.
Though Tabit, 75, has no plans to retire, he has cut back some.
“I used to work six days a week. Now I work five,” he said.
Last week a steady stream of regulars sat in his chair, while he reflected on his long career.
Originally from Seattle, he went to Barber School at 18, mostly because he didn’t want to work in the family’s shoe repair business.
“When I was 5, I made a promise to my dad. I said, ‘I’m gonna marry a Spokane girl like you did and get as far away from Seattle and the shoe business as I can,’” recalled Tabit.
Years later, his dad laughed and reminded him of that promise.
“You did it,” he said, “You went from the feet to the head!”
Tabit owned his own shop in Seattle when he married, but when they came to Spokane for a friend’s wedding in 1967, he knew he wanted to stay.
“I saw the sparkle in my wife’s eyes when she was with her family,” he said.
The first place he looked for a job was at Dan’s. Owner Dan Flambouras hired him on the spot. Dan’s granddaughter, Janina Flambouras, is the current owner, and Tabit has never looked back.
“I love my job. I love talking to people,” he said. “I spoil my customers. Once I start cutting their hair they don’t go to anyone else.”
Indeed, folks who’ve moved to Idaho, California or Alaska still stop in for a trim and a chat when they’re in Spokane.
Dan’s is a cash-only business. A hot shave with a straight-edge razor is still offered, and customers can get a splash of Bay Rum after-shave, or ask for some old-fashioned hair tonic. They can pet Laney, the barber shop cat, but they can’t get their shoes shined anymore.
“Mr. Johnson shined shoes here till he was 90, and we haven’t found anyone to replace him,” Tabit said.
The prices at Dan’s have changed with the times. A men’s haircut was once $1.75, now it’s $12. And there’s just four barbers where once they employed 13.
“The Monroe Street work put a dent in our business,” Tabit said.
But he still averages 20 to 30 cuts a day.
He cuts the hair of five generations in one family and his oldest client is 102.
“You get free haircuts after 100,” he said.
Some customers are more memorable than others.
“Once a couple came in to get the guy’s hair cut the night before their wedding,” he recalled.
The fellow had longish hair and told Tabit he wanted a short businessman’s cut.
Apparently, it was the first his bride-to-be had heard of this plan.
“She said, ‘You are not getting your hair cut short!’” Tabit said. “He insisted he wanted to look nice in his tux. She screamed, ‘The wedding is off!’ and stormed out the door.”
The hapless groom got a haircut, but had to find another ride home.
Other misunderstandings can occur.
Tabit tells of a big, burly biker, dressed in leather and boasting several skull and crossbones tattoos. He had long hair and big bushy beard.
He sat in Tabit’s chair and asked for a flat top.
“Are you sure you want a flat top?” Tabit asked.
The guy grumbled. “Are you gonna cut my hair or what?”
So Tabit ran his clippers up the side of the biker’s head.
“What are you doing?” screamed the customer. “Did I tell you to touch the sides of my hair? I asked for a flat TOP!”
Turns out the guy was from New York, where flat tops are long on the sides and short on top.
“He told me to finish what I started,” Tabit said. “But there were tears running down his face, and when he roared off on his bike, he did a wheelie all the way down to Zip’s.”
Thankfully, most of his customers leave happy.
Tabit said it takes three things to be a good barber.
“You have to have a good sense of humor, you have to be a good listener, and you have to be good at cutting hair,” he said.
After six decades, he doesn’t plan to put his scissors down or his feet up anytime soon.
“I retire every night and that’s it,” said Tabit, smiling. “I’m doing exactly what I enjoy doing. If I make one person a day happy, I’m happy.”