Episode 8: Mickey and Liz Natale-Kings Kuts
In this episode, we sit down with Mickey and Liz Natale. Mickey and Liz are father-daughter partners of the barber shop called King Kuts in Skokie. Mickey started the business with his brother Kenny in 1962. Mickey has been working with Liz for many years. Kings Kuts epitomizes the neighborhood, family-owned barber shop. Some would say it’s a community center, or the Cheers of Skokie, where everybody knows your name.
Personally, I had my first haircut at Kings Kuts, along with my son, my brother, and my father and grandfather also go to Kings Kuts. It’s a core part of my life. And it’s a core part of the community’s life.
The episode walks us through the history of Kings Kuts, how it started and how it has evolved. The Village of Skokie marked the importance of Kings Kuts by creating an ordinance for Kings Kuts Day on October 6, 2012 in honor of their 50th year in business (https://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/skokie/published_documents/Manager%20Department/BoardAgenda/2012-10-01/2012-10-01.pdf).
Liz talks about how they started thek, “take your daughter to work day,” very early. By 13 she was the shampoo girl, and by 16 and a half, the first day you could enter barber school, she entered. By the way, their uncle owned the barber school. She has been working at Kings Kuts now for 36 years. They love working with each other. Mickey says, “if you can’t get along with Liz, there’s something wrong with you.”
We talked about the ups of the business. The 70s were a tough time for Kings Kuts. From getting poor quality new barbers, to people keeping their hair long, they had to find ways to make ends meet. Mickey is a car guy, and he and his brother would repair people’s cars at night. Mickey used to race cars, but he sold his race car and bought equipment to fix cars in his garage. We also talk about the competition in the business between the high-end shops and the chains.
The conversation turned towards their connections to their customers who have become like family, and their neighbors in the shopping center. We walked about the close relationship with Joel Jacobs who owned Kosher Gourmet before he passed away on new years eve of 2010. We also talked about the owners of New York Bagel and Bialy like going to Oli’s son’s wedding last year.
They even talk about people coming in to Kings Kuts for nostalgic visits. People come into their shop and Poochies, and other local longtime businesses.
Mickey is also famous for his red 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. People knew when it was Spring in Skokie when they’d see Mickey’s red Corvette sitting outside the shop. He bought it in 1966 and finally sold it in 2018.
We then talk about my son Joey, and his sense of humor. Mickey tells the story of how he told a fellow customer he was 94 years old and goes to Northwestern University. He was 6.
We talk about the pets in the store like their zebra finches. They started with 2 and now have 18 birds. They talk about how they take care of them.
When Mickey does eventually retire, Liz plans to rent a chair from another barber shop in the area. Hopefully Kings Kuts will be open for many, many years before that happens.
Kings Kuts is located at 3558 Dempster Street Skokie, IL 60076 and their phone number is 847-673-9663. Call them for an appointment or stop in!
I’d like to thank several people for help with today’s show. This includes my real estate brokerage, Dreamtown Realty in Evanston for helping me with my graphics for the show. I’d like to thank Industrious in Evanston for use of their space to record follow them on Instagram at @industriousevanston. And if listening to this podcast gave you the bug to buy or sell real estate, give me call or go to my real estate website at http://www.aaronmasliansky.com And don’t forget to subscribe! Thank you.
