Pete's Barber Shop in Valparaiso, IN

Pete's is a great place but not when they get a new worker. The guy (Pete, I think) had to tell her what to do, and how to do it. I mean look at me

Had an outstanding experience at Pete's and received one of the best haircuts and beard trims I have ever had.  Highly recommend and will be back.

This place prides itself in not honoring hours and publicly insulting loyal customers. This is an update on a review I wrote in response to Pete's angry/hateful written response to the same said review here on Yelp.

Original problem? I went to Pete's an hour before close one beautiful spring day. Pete had left ONE BARBER on duty. There were 12 people waiting for cuts. The barber in charge said "I'm sorry, we're closed." I said the store was open for another hour, as posted on the door. I also explained I was a pallbearer for a dear friend's funeral the next day.  The barber repeated "I said we're closed."  I responded she was TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL and left.  

Thinking mistakes happen, I returned to Pete's a month later, and waited for Pete -- who had cut my  hair since one month after his shop opened. All he said during and after my 1/2 hour cut (which was good) was "if you insult my staff, you insult me."   He made no inquiries as to what happened that day that I was turned away an hour before closing, made no apologies for he and his fellow barbers leaving one barber to run an entire shop on a beautiful spring day. Then treated me like dirt when I showed up to try and salvage (repair)  what I thought was a good friendship with a man I had come to admire and respect.

But there's more to this tale of how far Pete will go in his anger.  One month later,  Pete used another person's site to attack my one star review of his shop on Yelp, saying I:  (a) rambled and made no sense  (b) insulted his worker (after she insulted me)  (c) failed to mention anything about my dear friend dying (whom I spoke with Pete about his dying of a terminal illness a number of different times when Pete was cutting my hair) -- the same man  whose funeral I was in the day after I was turned away an hour before posted closing hours . . .   (d) insulted me for showing off by using "big words" in my review (? ? ?)  (e) insulted me for hiding behind a caricature that another friend who had recently died of cancer drew for me to use. "You even have to hide behind a cartoon rather than using your actual picture," Pete said smugly in his lengthy, insulting, and bordering on cruel response to my Yelp review. (Personally attacking a person for writing a Yelp review?  I mean, who does that? )

PETE -- PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE POST THIS REVIEW IN YOUR SHOP TO SHOW HOW CRAZY A MAN WHO WAS TRYING TO LOOK GOOD FOR A DEAR FRIEND'S FUNERAL WAS FOR TRYING TO GET A HAIRCUT AT YOUR SHOP DURING POSTED BUSINESS HOURS.  I totally admit it was my fault that you understaffed your shop, it was my fault that you LEFT early and opted not to return to your shop to help a worker in need, it was my fault that you got angry that I called the single employee you left in charge "unprofessional" for closing one hour early AND it was totally my fault that you insulted me again when I returned to your shop to try and mend bridges and salvage a friendship that I had sincerely come to value and support. It was all my fault, Pete.  You were totally right in your treatment and concern . . .

PLEASE POST THIS SO YOU CAN FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT OF THAT JERK WHO MISTAKENLY TRUSTED YOUR BARBER SHOP TO HONOR HOURS OF OPERATION YOU HAD POSTED ON YOUR DOOR -- AND WHO CAME TO YOUR SHOP DURING AN ACTUAL HOUR OF NEED FOR HELP.

You once were a man I admired for overcoming a very difficult life and making something of yourself.   What happened to that person? When did you turn so judgmental and hateful?

I honestly feel sorry for whatever it was in life that turned you into the person you've become.  I know your business is successful. I'm happy for you.  But you are nothing like the great man I met years ago who started a very small business with the help of small loans from his kind Greek relatives.

I honestly feel sorry for you.

Thanks for reading this.

It was our second visit. My son is pretty picky about who cuts his hair.  Will be back.

I think a lot of the people writing comments around here don't know what a good haircut is or they wouldn't be slandering these barbers. I've been to some of the best spots in California, New York, Chicago, etc etc. and I had a great experience as well as excellent precision and patience from the female barber they have, sorry I can't remember her name at the moment but she executed a med-high fade to zero, as well as faded into beard after a great lineup and trim. Didn't whine or complain when I had her go back to work on beard twice. She clearly knows what she's doing and did so without assistance (including straight razor on back of head/neck), in a timely manner. Maybe reevaluate your own style or personal issues before commenting something hateful on someone's place of business. Would highly recommend to friends/family alike. Wish they were open today though!