Dan’s still going strong

Though I’m sure she intended no harm, columnist Cindy Hval unwittingly rendered a disservice to a longtime local small business, one which has had more than its share of challenges in recent years (the long closure of North Monroe, the Covid closure earlier this year, a just-completed short closure for remodeling, and now, a premature obituary). But to paraphrase Mark Twain, the rumors of the death of Dan’s Barber Shop have been greatly exaggerated!

Hval’s article of Nov. 19 (“Starting over”) reported on barber Mike Tabit’s having ended his long employment at Dan’s last July. But then she added as a matter of fact that “Dan’s Barber Shop has since closed.” Upon reading that, I looked in the mirror and confirmed that, Yes, I had just received another great haircut at Dan’s – on Nov. 20, one day AFTER the published report of its demise. Good thing I was a couple of days behind in reading the Spokesman, or I might not have made the 15-mile trip to Dan’s as I have for the past 20 years, where I have gotten many great, yet inexpensive haircuts!

I wish Mike well as he stands at a chair in another shop, but I hope many of Dan’s customers still find their way to the old place at the bottom of the hill on Monroe. And I hope the Spokesman offers some free advertising to compensate Dan’s for the error, because I’d like to keep going there for another 20 years!

Paul Steenblik

Spokane