After the unexpected death of longtime Doylestown Borough barber Tom Bernhardt last fall, his small, tucked-away shop at the Herb's Corner shopping plaza found new life through two local barbers determined to carry on his legacy.
According to the Bucks County Herald, Lisa Bilotta said Bernhardt had asked her shortly before his passing if she would consider buying the business at 67 Atkinson Dr., a conversation that took on new meaning after his death.
Along with Beverly Arnold, Bilotta stepped in to take over the two-chair shop at the corner of Veterans Lane and Atkinson Drive, later renaming it Norm & Lew’s Barber Shop in honor of their fathers, per the article.
Though the name has changed, much of the spirit of the original shop remains intact. The new owners have preserved Bernhardt’s personal touches, from his bird photography displayed on the walls to vintage razors and memorabilia reflecting his interests.
Regular customers have returned, sharing memories of Bernhardt’s humor, storytelling, and unique personality, as Bilotta and Arnold aim to maintain the same welcoming, old-school atmosphere that made the shop a local fixture, according to the article.
For more, read the full story here.
