Peters Barbershop
608 E . McMurray Road # 104 724.941.4606 Call for Hours Jeffrey Derbish , Owner
Jeffrey Derbish co-managed the Bethel Barbershop for over five years , and while he sometimes had entertained the thought of owning his own shop , it wasn ’ t until the pandemic and a three-month layoff that he decided to do just that .
After many questions and the encouragement of two barber friends , Derbish enrolled in the Pittsburgh Barber School . In 2021 , he opened Peters Barbershop , naming it after his wife ’ s grandfather . The shop has been a success , and Derbish now works with the same two barbers who encouraged him .
Peters offers everything from regular men ’ s haircuts to an old-school hot towel face shave . From children to seniors , Derbish wants it known that “ any type of hair that comes through our door we can cut .” What more could you ask for from a barber ?
Fiores Barbershop
1035 Waterdam Plaza Drive 412.613.3215 Call for Hours Mark Fiore , Co-Owner Eleni Dire , Co-Owner
After a four-year stint in the Army , Mark Fiore enrolled at the Pittsburgh Barber School , then worked on perfecting his barbering skills until a layoff from his machinist job in 2008 convinced him to work full time as a barber .
Fiore opened his first shop in 2013 , and after a six-month move to Florida in 2020 , he returned to Canonsburg to open Fiores Barbershop with the assistance of friends and former clients .
Fiore truly loves barbering and describes the people of Canonsburg as both caring and supportive . He particularly enjoys meeting people “ eyeto-eye and getting to know them .” Indeed , it appears that Mark Fiore has found a lifetime career , since he “ can ’ t imagine doing anything else .” n
From Barber to Singing Icon
As a crooner of romantic ballads , singer Perry Como had few peers . But did you know that his original ambition was to be a barber ? Born in Canonsburg on May 18 , 1912 , young Perry practiced his shaving skills on his father , Pietro , and by the age of 10 he was accepted as an apprentice with a local barber . Three years later , the teenaged Perry owned his own shop . Como ’ s new business thrived , yet he felt that something was missing from his barbershop services , and he began to serenade his customers with the popular songs of the day . His singing was an immediate hit , and he was asked to sing at local weddings while his staff barbered the groom ’ s party ! His popularity as the “ wedding barber ” led him to gigs throughout Western Pennsylvania and Ohio .
Como moved north to Meadville in 1932 to work in his uncle ’ s barber shop . There he continued his “ singing barber ” services , and encouraged by his friends and future wife Roselle , he auditioned as a singer for the Freddy Carlone Orchestra , a popular dance band of the era . Impressed with Como ’ s performance , Carlone offered him a job singing with the band .
Reluctant to accept the offer ( he was earning four times as much as a barber ), he consulted with his father who encouraged him to “ give it a try .” Four days later , Como joined Freddy Carlone ’ s band , and his barbering career was put on hold .
He toured with the band for the next three years until an unexpected offer came from popular midwestern bandleader Ted Weems , who made frequent radio appearances on Jack Benny ’ s show and “ Beat the Band .” The offer also included an increase in salary to $ 50 a week and Perry made the move , seeing this as an opportunity for nationwide exposure .
Yet six years later , Weems ’ orchestra disbanded when Weems joined the Merchant Marine at the start of World War II . Believing this was the end of his singing career , Como was negotiating a lease on a barbershop in Canonsburg when he received an offer from CBS to star in his own radio show in New York City .
Reluctant to leave his hometown , Como was hesitant , but he ultimately decided to accept CBS ’ offer . Putting away the barbering tools , Como moved his family to the Big Apple .
And the rest is history . n
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