Local barber lands a big one in north Ocean City

For Shaun Welsh, cutting hair has always been a way of life. Back in Severna Park, Md., he had been running his barber shop for decades. But earlier this month, fortune came his way in the form of business and pleasure, as Welsh, with a little help from his friends, landed more than a new business in north Ocean City, Md.

Coastal Point • Submitted
The staff at Old Tyme Barber Shop in Ocean City – from left, Giusseppe ‘Joe’ Biancaiello, Captain Sean Walsh, Sonya Hicks and Rick Bren – pause from trimming tresses for a quick photo.

The grand opening of Welsh’s Old Tyme Family Barbershop, just over three weeks ago, coincided with the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, the largest billfish tournament in the world. And it just so happens that offshore fishing is another one of Welsh’s passions.

When not behind a barber chair, armed with scissors and a comb, Welsh is equipped with rods and bait, as he captains the Restless Lady, a charter boat out of Ocean City. Last week, during the competition, the Restless Lady returned to the docks with the second-largest wahoo, weighing in at 68 pounds, and the largest blue marlin of the tournament (and biggest fish in the White Marlin Open), tipping the scales at 699.5 pounds.

“It was a very lucky week for me,” said Welsh, with a smile from ear to ear. “I’ve always enjoyed fishing offshore, but it’s great to be back in a barber shop, and if you’re going to be anywhere, you might as well be here.”

So what’s the trick to Walsh’s streak?

“You’ve got to surround yourself with good people,” he said, “and good things will happen. I’ve got a great crew on my boat, and I have a great staff working with me at the shop. Everything came together for me. We worked around the clock to get this place ready to open, and we’re here for the long haul.”

Accompanied by some of his closest friends, Welsh noted that the experience in the shop speaks volumes about the quality that customers looking for a shave and a haircut are going to find.

“These guys here at the shop are going to help make this all work,” he said. “We have a strong clientele base, and we’re meeting new people all the time.”

Rick Bren – who has been an established barber in the Ocean City area for six years and has been cutting hair for upwards of four decades – said he appreciates the social side of his job.

“It’s almost like being a bartender,” he said. “There’s a social aspect to it all. Your regulars come in to see you, and you get to know a lot of the locals.”

But just because the shop exudes a local feel doesn’t mean it’s just for the year-rounders and regulars.

“We get lots of vacationers and second-homeowners stopping in, too,” said Bren. “You wouldn’t believe the number of people looking for a haircut when they go on vacation. They come in from all over – Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware. We get tons of customers.”

Another barber at the Old Tyme Family Barber Shop, Giusseppe “Joe” Biancaiello, said customers appreciate the classic atmosphere.

“I like meeting the people,” he said. “When they come it, they’re comfortable. It’s like seeing an old friend again. Customers stop in to talk about sports, the news, anything. It makes you feel good when people stop in to see you. We’re very professional here, and we know hair. We’re trying to bring back what the old barbershop feel was all about.”

When he’s not helping man the shop, Biancaiello donates a lot of his spare time to helping the community through a variety of organizations, including the Ocean City chapter of the Parrot Heads and the Knights of Columbus.

“It’s great to be a part of the community,” he said. “I always enjoy meeting new people and helping out when I can.”

Sonya Hicks, who worked under the previous ownership, offers her style and talent while maintaining a friendly and familiar face for customers once inside.

“I love doing this,” she said. “I do it for the customers. I’ve had a really good clientele base, and it’s been a lot of fun to watch families grow up. It makes you really feel like you’re part of the community.”

From traditional cuts to shaves, beard and mustache trimmings, coloring and more, Old Tyme Family Barber Shop pays homage to the time-honored tradition of walking downtown to get a trim or “just a little off the top.” Shave brushes, straight-edge razors and hot shaving cream are just as common at the shop as the more modern scissors and clippers.

While each contributes to the countless conversations over the buzzing of the clippers, the snips from the shears and the low hum of the blow dryer, Welsh is the self-proclaimed storyteller of the group, and, with a history of coaching youth sports, a knack for landing the biggest catch of the day and a positive outlook on life, he’s got plenty to say.

“I definitely bring some character to the shop,” he said. “I enjoy talking to everyone, and it’s good to hear how the customers are doing. We pay attention to that. To see these people coming back to us, that’s what it’s all about.”

The Old Tyme Family Barber Shop is open six days a week, from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays. They are located at 14203 Coastal Highway in Ocean City, Md., just two blocks south of Route 54. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (410) 250-0207.