Two brothers achieve the American dream
with their barbershop
Twenty-one years ago, brothers Solomon (“Sal”) and Albert (“Al”) Basanelov of eastern Uzbekistan joined some four dozen relatives from their small city of Fergana and traveled more than 9,000 miles west to America, where they sought escape from the tightly controlled and repressive regime that marked the former Soviet state.
In 1993, the brothers established themselves in Rego Park in Queens and began seeking out careers where they could live what they saw as the American dream—ownership of their own business and the freedom to pursue their own lives and fortunes. After working for a short while caring for patients in a Queens nursing home and motivated by two cousins, Al and Sal went to a New York City barber college and after finishing the course, worked as employees for their cousins who owned barber shops in Franklin Square. Eventually, they decided to open their own shop—Al and Sal’s Barber Shop—in a small shopping strip on Stewart Avenue in Hicksville.
“I like being the boss of my own business, and I like knowing that I can make as much as I want if I just work hard and give good service to my customers,” said Sal, 32, a slim man, with a fashionable close haircut and stubble on his chin.
“It’s a great feeling when customers come back not just because they got a great haircut, but because they like their barber,” said Al, 31.
Al and Sal opened their shop on Dec. 22, 2012. The brothers say they located in Hicksville because they like the diversity of their clientele. “We get families, business people, retirees, kids—a good mix,” said Sal.
He said he likes the Stewart Avenue shopping strip location because “it’s a peaceful location…it has a nice suburban feel. The traffic around here is not so hectic like in a big mall. But there are small office buildings nearby and that’s a good source for customers.”
And as for working so closely with his brother, Sal says both men have no difficulty.
“It’s not an issue as long as you’re both on the same page,” says Sal. Both men, he explained, want to make a good living to support their families and want to do it by providing good service at fair prices.
“We charge $13 dollars for a haircut,” Al said. “12 for seniors. These are very competitive prices for a Long Island haircut.”
To enable customers to get a haircut no matter their work or family responsibilities, A&S Barbershop is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The shop is located at 107 Stewart Avenue, Hicksville. Call 516-433-2969 to make an appointment or find out more.
