Queens Chapel barbershop, at 3108 Hamilton St. near the 711, has been operating for 85 years.

One customer, Melvin Franklin (“Frank”) Key, has been coming for more than forty of those years, since his father Melvin Key cut hair there. “I’m like his [Frank’s] daughter, he takes care of the barbershop,” says current owner Tina Nguyen, who has cut hair at the shop for about 30 years herself.

Reel of the event produced by Nigel F. Maynard

Key helped promote a party that Nguyen threw on Friday Jan. 9 to for the 85th anniversary of the barbershop. Nguyen’s three adult children and two grandchildren came to celebrate with cake and traditional Vietnamese food, alongside customers and city council members Joshua Solomon and Kelson Nisbett (both Ward 5) as well as Hyattsville Police Chief Jarod Towers and Deputy Chief Laura Lanham.

Merrill Hartson, a customer and retired editor of AP News, gave some poetical remarks: “For 85 years, the Queens Chapel Barbershop has persevered, never short of sheers, never at a loss for cheers” he said, going on to note that just as in the television show Cheers, everyone knows your name at the Queens Chapel Barbershop.

Key, Nguyen, and Nyugen’s son spoke as well, praising the shop’s loyal customers.

Merril Hartson makes remarks at the 85th Anniversary Celebration of Queens Chapel Barbershop
Tina Nguyen’s eldest son Tony Nguyen and Frank Key at the 85th anniversary of the Queens Chapel barbershop Credit: Kit Slack
Tina Nguyen and Liz Key at the 85th Anniversary Celebration of Queens Chapel Barbershop Credit: Kit Slack
Customers waiting just before the party starts at the 85th anniversary celebration of Queens Chapel Barbershop Credit: Kit Slack

Merrill Hartson is a member of the board of Streetcar Suburbs Publishing.