Savannah KucharIn the late ’70s, Bettina Fletcher needed her hair cut, and so she took a recommendation from her sister for a local stylist in Georgetown. Liking his work and personality, she went back to him soon again to get her hair done for her wedding. And for years after, she continued returning to that salon, bringing along her daughter Maggie, who at three years old would sit in the bay window during her mother鈥檚 appointments. 听
When that stylist opened his own salon in Tenleytown in 1982, the mother and daughter听followed him there. Today, three generations of Fletchers still come to Minsky鈥檚 Hair Emporium to see owner Jack Bubis, or “Grandpa Jack” to Maggie Fletcher’s two children.
鈥�Jack is a wonderful person,鈥� Bettina Fletcher, 73, said. 鈥淗e’s done well with this community.鈥�听
Bubis, 71, moved to Washington, D.C. from Montreal when he was 25, taking a听job at the听hair salon in Georgetown, before opening Minsky鈥檚 six years later. Bubis said he has stayed in business for the past 40 years because of people like Bettina and Maggie.听
鈥淎 lot of my clients, we’ve been together longer than most marriages,鈥� Bubis said.听
Like her mother, Maggie Fletcher, now 45, went to Jack at Minsky鈥檚 to get her hair done for her wedding. That evening Bubis was dancing at the reception.听
鈥淎nd he was the first person to cut Emma鈥檚 hair and the first person to cut Tim鈥檚 hair as well,鈥� Maggie Fletcher said, referring to her 12- and 7-year-old children. Bubis also cut Bettina Fletcher鈥檚 mother鈥檚 hair when she was alive.听
Even though the family now lives in Bowie, Maryland, Maggie Fletcher said they make the 45-minute drive to Tenleytown, D.C., 鈥渂ecause it鈥檚 Jack.鈥�听
“Just sit and look鈥� at the salon walls听
When Minsky鈥檚 was closed for several months during the pandemic, Bubis decided to repaint the entire shop, changing what used to be red and green walls. However, visitors to the salon are less likely to spot the now dark purple and lilac backdrops as they are the photos, paintings and playbills that cover nearly every square inch of the space.听听
鈥淲hen I decided I wanted to open up my shop, I didn’t want to be like everyone else,鈥� Bubis said.听
A lifelong fan of the theater, Bubis said he acquired many of the signed headshots now hanging at Minsky鈥檚 from attending Broadway shows and standing outside the stage doors to catch members of the cast.听
The name Minsky鈥檚 was also a product of Bubis鈥檚 love for theater.听
鈥淚 wanted something Jewish, something Russian, and something to deal with burlesque,鈥� Bubis said, referring to his inspiration, Minsky鈥檚 Burlesque house, which was owned and operated by a Hasidic Jewish family in Brooklyn in the early twentieth century.听
The remainder of Bubis鈥檚 wall art collection came to him as gifts, he said. Pointing to a signed photograph of actress Mae West, Bubis said that particular black and white artwork was from a client who told Bubis, 鈥淪he鈥檒l like it here.鈥�听
Even after coming to Minsky鈥檚 for decades, Bettina Fletcher said she still spots something new among Bubis鈥檚 collection each time she鈥檚 in the salon chair.听
鈥淎ll kinds of things around here if you just sit and look,鈥� she said.听
Mixed with the memorabilia are personal touches, including framed photographs of Bubis鈥檚 grandfathers 鈥� both barbers 鈥� and a photo collage of a young Emma Fletcher.听
Down to the details, Bubis said he wants clients to feel at home in his salon. Around this time of year, that includes pulling out his wealth of holiday decorations.听
鈥淚 don’t take this lightly,鈥� Bubis said. 鈥淚 have a lot of clients that say to me this makes their holiday.鈥�听
Minsky鈥檚 is known for having an extravagant Christmas display, with multiple themed trees, garland weaving between collector plates on the ceiling and a painted wintery window display.听
鈥淐hristmas is one of my favorite holidays. For a Jew, I’m a good Christian,鈥� Bubis said. 鈥淭o me, Christmas is just one of those wonderful holidays 鈥� And it’s not about the gifts. It’s about the cheer and the people.鈥�听
A fixture in the Tenleytown community听
In all his years in Tenleytown, Bubis has cut men’s and women’s hair at Minsky’s, serving clients of all ages.听Though most of this time has been at the salon鈥檚 current location on Wisconsin Avenue, Minsky鈥檚 was also previously located at two other Tenleytown addresses.听听
In the four decades he has owned Minsky鈥檚, Bubis said he has watched the neighborhood grow and change. His own business has stayed afloat, especially during COVID, he said, because of loyal clients like the Fletchers and other members of the community.听
At Minsky鈥檚, Bubis said he does everything, from running the business to cutting and styling clients鈥� hair. Though he has had employees from time to time in the past, Bubis said he prefers to run the show solo, since he enjoys his work so much.听
鈥淚’m going to be 72, and I still love what I’m doing. I keep learning. I keep doing different types of hairstyles for different people,鈥� Bubis said. 鈥淭his is what it’s all about. I mean, if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, you’re in trouble.鈥�听
Wash staff
The only thing cooler than Minsky’s is Jack himself. My wife, Brenna, and I have known Jack for over 25 years, many as his neighbor in Arlington. He’s a special person in and out of the shop.
Never stop, Jack!
Jim and Brenna
Savanna,
Thank you very much for writing this beautiful article on Minsky鈥檚 Hair Emporium. It was a privilege meeting you.
Such a beautiful article, Minsky鈥檚 is a magical place indeed!
Jack has done my hair for 43 years and he did both of my daughters鈥� (now aged 50 and 48) hair when they were growing up and we lived in D.C. I always look forward to getting my hair cut. Jack is a blast.
Jack is one of the kindest and most generous people I know. Besides his salon skills, he is also an excellent cook, always talking about food, his menu for dinner that night, and wanting to know what I plan to cook. I have been his client for 40 years in his 3 Tenleytown locations. He brings a sparkle to Tenleytown like no one else.
Jack’s been styling my hair for the last 40+ years. He’s the best!!!!