Discover Downtown Gloversville

Jennifer Donovan
Jun 30
3 min read

Updated: Jul 10

A Century of Style: Celebrating 100 Years of Mr. G's Hair Gallery

A Celebration of Legacy

June 27, 2025, marked a truly special occasion in Gloversville: Mr. G's Hair Gallery officially reached its 100th year of continuous operation! A special Proclamation Ceremony was held at the salon's historic 55 W. Fulton St. location. This was to honor two generations of the Garofalo family for their incredible legacy of entrepreneurship and dedication to our community.

The ceremony was a heartfelt tribute to Vincenzo "Vincent" Garofalo, who first opened "The Sanitary Barbershop" way back in 1925. His son, Thomas Garofalo, then took the reins in the 1960s. He skillfully modernized and expanded the business into the full-service "Mr. G's Hair Gallery for Men and Women," which we know and love today. The attendees saluted Thomas for the salon's enduring success. They shared stories and looked through remodeling photos as he fondly reminisced about the past few decades.

The Early Days of Mr. G's

Mr. G's journey began in 1925 when Vincent Garofalo purchased the property at 55 W. Fulton St. He transformed the front room of a residential home into his barbershop. Before that, Vincent had already been honing his craft in Gloversville since 1910, starting at Joe Persico's Barber Shop on Church Street. His initial clientele was primarily men, with the occasional "Buster Brown" cut for women.

It seems Thomas, Vincent's son, was destined to continue the family trade. Groomed for the business since the age of 12, Thomas became an apprentice at 16 and a licensed barber right after graduating high school in 1962. When he took over the business, he initially renamed it Mr. G’s Men’s Hairstyling.

Innovating in the Decades

Thomas Garofalo quickly proved to be a visionary. He constantly adapted to changing trends and expanded the salon's offerings. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, he mastered popular styles inspired by cultural icons like Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Always committed to providing comprehensive services, Thomas pursued further education. In 1978, he became certified in the Art and Science of Trigonometric Cutting and Design.

In the late 1970s, he dramatically remodeled the shop and rebranded it as Mr. G's Hair Gallery for Men and Women. This signified its evolution into a full-service unisex salon. The salon offered everything from cuts and coloring to a wide range of hair care products. Thomas even briefly introduced indoor tanning services in the 1980s to keep up with the latest trends. Beyond his keen business sense, Thomas also made his mark in the competitive hairstyling world, participating in various contests. He later became a judge for competitions.

The Current Landscape

Today, Mr. G's Hair Gallery continues to thrive as a full-service salon. It specializes in haircuts, hair replacement solutions, coloring, perms, highlights, extensions, and a vast array of hair care products. The continuous success of this family-owned business is a true testament to its unwavering commitment to quality service and customer satisfaction.

Community Impact

This centennial celebration is more than just a party. It's an opportunity to acknowledge the significant contributions of a local business. Mr. G's has provided essential services and been a cornerstone of the Gloversville community for generations. The phrase "a local legacy" captures its essence perfectly.

Here's to another 100 years of style, service, and community at Mr. G's Hair Gallery!