Diego's Hair Salon
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hair salon |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | Diego D'Ambrosio |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Area served | Washington, D.C. |
| Products | Haircuts |
Diego's Hair Salon is a barbershop situated in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C., United States. Established in the 1960s by the Italian American Diego D'Ambrosio, this salon has grown into a local landmark favored by politicians, clergy, diplomats, and numerous Supreme Court Justices.
The city of Washington, D.C. paid tribute to D'Ambrosio by naming a nearby street in his honor, while the Italian government recognized his efforts with the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity. He died in late October 2021 at the age of 87.
History
After immigrating from Italy to America in 1961, D'Ambrosio began his career in a hairdressing establishment two years later.[1] He launched his own salon in 1965.[2] Around 1980, he moved his business to The Moorings at 1901 Q Street N.W. in Dupont Circle, a former apartment complex with a maritime theme.[1][3] The Moorings is an Art Deco structure designed by Horace Peaslee in 1927 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Dupont Circle Historic District.
Upon relocating to The Moorings, D'Ambrosio set men's haircut prices at $20,[1] a rate he maintained for approximately 35 years before increasing it to $25 in March 2016. Rupert Cornwell of The Independent characterized Diego's as a "modest and friendly establishment," where the décor reflects Washington’s mix of authority and tradition within an unpretentious yet welcoming atmosphere.[4]
D'Ambrosio's honors
In recognition of his promotion of Italian culture, D'Ambrosio was awarded the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity at the Italian Embassy in 2009. On April 23, 2010, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and other officials officially renamed the 1900 block of Q Street, N.W., as Diego D'Ambrosio Way to acknowledge his impact on both residents and local businesses.
Notable clientele
Among Diego's patrons have been Supreme Court Justices Warren E. Burger and William Rehnquist, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former British Prime Minister John Major, Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, Apostolic Nuncio Pietro Sambi, former Italian ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta, Mayor Adrian Fenty, as well as members of the D.C. Council. His services have extended to 75 ambassadors and 17 presidents and prime ministers from 135 nations.
External links
- "Ask Diego", video by Politico
- "The Barber of Dupont", video by The Washington Times
- "A glimpse into the famous Diego's Hair Salon", video by The Washington Post
- "Dupont Circle honors stylist who serves as neighborhood's 'foundation stone'", photo gallery by The Washington Post
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedwapo - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs nameddcgov - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedwilliams - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedindy