- August 27, 2021
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Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone works with a customer at Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop.
Larry Hine’s great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone has taken over the Larry’s Barber Shop, now Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop, after he died earlier this year.
Larry Hine’s great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone cuts a little customer’s hair at Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop in Crown Point.
Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone cuts hair at what is now Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop.
Larry Hine’s great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone has taken over the Larry’s Barber Shop, now Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop, after he died earlier this year.
Uncle Larry’s Barbershop in downtown Crown Point is shown.
Uncle Larry’s Barbershop in downtown Crown Point is shown.
The revolving barber’s pole outside of Larry’s Barber Shop in Crown Point serves as his business beacon, welcoming customers. Larry Hine’s great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone has taken over the business after he died earlier this year.
Larry Hine, owner of Larry’s Barber Shop in downtown Crown Point, died earlier this year. His great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone has taken over the business to keep his legacy going.
Larry Hine’s great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone has taken over the Larry’s Barber Shop, now Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop, after he died earlier this year.
Lawrence “Larry” Hine, better known as Larry the Barber, was a longtime institution in historic downtown Crown Point.
As the owner of Larry’s Barber Shop just south of the Old Courthouse Square for 60 years, he cut the hair of and chatted up generations of Region residents, dispensing wisdom and quips like “hair today, gone tomorrow” while giving customers immaculately precise cuts. He died in January at the age of 80.
His great-niece, Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone, has stepped in to take over the barbershop at 211 S. Main St. and keep his legacy alive.
“Alex became interested in the field thanks to her great uncle,” her aunt Joy Lundstrom said. “She first began by training as a hairstylist, but strong feelings kept pulling her toward becoming a barber. After more instruction, she realized her passion.”
A Hammond native who started out cutting hair for $5 in his grandparents’ house while he was still living in their basement is now giving haircuts in a tricked-out Mercedes truck to White Sox superstars like Yoan Moncada, Jose Abreu, Luis Robert and Tim Anderson. Freddie Pintor, the owner of Big League Barbershop in Hammond and St. John, has been cutting the hair of White Sox stars at their homes and condos, outside Guaranteed Rate Field, in the parking lots of hotels and at Midway Airport. He rolls up in a custom Mercedes truck he’s equipped with an antique barber chair, a full bar, television and a stereo system pumping out whatever tunes they prefer. A stylist for the South Siders, his growing list of ballplayer clients from the Sox includes Nick Madrigal, Leury Garcia and former right fielder Nomar Mazara. Pitcher Dylan Cease has asked for his number.
Pampalone has been cutting and styling men’s hair at a barbershop in Lowell for the last four years.
“I really enjoy styling men’s hair and making them feel good,” she said. “I signed up as as stylist, but what I like is barbering. I feel like I connect more with it.”
After Hine died, she knew she needed to carry on the shop, which occupies a building that dates to 1910. She renamed it Uncle Larry’s Barbershop in his honor.
“He was in this building since 1975 and had the shop since the mid- to late-1960s,” she said. “It really makes me feel good to keep it going. There’s too much life left in this place. Older guys tell me they’ve been coming here since 1978, coming here for 40 years. It means a lot to me to keep it open so more generations can get their hair cut there.”
It’s an old school barbershop with a barbershop pole, antique barber’s chairs, and a vintage Coca-Cola vending machine
“It’s got an old school vibe. I barely changed a thing,” she said. “It’s got an appealing look with all the history. People peek in the window and ask if they can pop in to take pictures.”
There’s a lot of foot traffic since it’s right by the courthouse square.
“A lot of my customers make a day of being in town. They can get their hair, grab lunch and shop around a little bit,” she said.
Coming Sunday, ride along with Specialist Dyer as he patrols LaPorte.
Uncle Larry’s Barbershop is currently open for walk-ins only, but Pampalone said she may add appointments in the future if needed. She cuts men’s and children’s hair, serving all ages.
Pampalone is currently the only barber working in the small shop, which has two chairs. She prefers it that way so customers can get their hair cut by the same barber every time they stop in.
“I’d like to stay here as long as possible,” she said. “He’d been here a long time and it’s a very well-known story. People keep coming in to share memories.”
Uncle Larry’s Barbershop is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, call 219-663-9824 or find Uncle Larry’s Barbershop LLC on Facebook.
Giuseppe’s Restaurant is one of the most celebrated pizzerias in the Region, with its cured meats, creamy mozzarella and sauce made from vine-ripe tomatoes.
The old-world Italian pizza joint at 1000 Eagle Ridge Drive in Schererville offers authentic Neapolitan pizzas charred in a 900-degree stone wood-burning oven. Giuseppe’s makes 19th-century pizzas with San Marzano tomatoes, sea salt, fresh herbs and spices and flour imported from Italy.
Its pizzas include the Soppressata E Funghi with cured meats, fresh basil and portobello mushrooms, Margherita con bufala with fresh Italian buffalo mozzarella, and the Quattro Stagione with soppressata, portobello mushrooms, marinated artichoke and fior di latte.
Giuseppe’s owners are planning a new Neapolitan street food restaurant in downtown Highland, said town Redevelopment Director Kathy DeGuilio-Fox. It will offer authentic cuisine from the Naples region of Italy, she said.
The new eatery will be located on Jewett Street near the downtown Highland library.
Antioch Pizza Shop is looking to expand to Northwest Indiana.
The Antioch, Illinois-based pizzeria, based in Lake County up against the Wisconsin state line, has opened three new restaurants in Illinois and Wisconsin this year at a time when 17% of restaurants have reportedly closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Antioch Pizza aims to expand to 30 restaurants by 2026, and has identified the Hammond as a major target for expansion “because of its attractive and stable real estate market and growing business communities.”
A neighborhood pizzeria for more than four decades, Antioch Pizza Shop is now looking to grow through franchising. It has seven locations and another three in development as it eyes expansion across select markets in the Midwest and South.
“We pride ourselves on providing high-quality food and creating meaningful experiences for every customer. These are some of the key elements which set us apart from other concepts,” said Art Wicklein, co-owner of Antioch Pizza Shop. “We’ve seen how our dedication to the local communities we serve has bred success, and we think that it’s time the people of Hammond experience what makes Antioch Pizza special.”
The pizzeria was founded in 1977 with a recipe shared by friends. It was purchased by Antioch natives Art and Karen Wicklein, who are married, in 2008. They hope to grow it across Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
“We wanted to start a concept that was recession-proof. Our business has stood the test of time and more,” said co-owner Karen Wicklein. “Today, our team is looking to grow with like-minded franchise owners who share our passion for community and our mission of phenomenal customer service.”
The pizzeria — whose slogan is “it’s not just pizza, it’s passion” — specializes in Chicagoland favorites like tavern-cut pizza, Italian beef sandwiches and hot dogs. It also had innovative menu items like a double-decker pizza stuffed with fresh mozzarella and other toppings.
The menu also includes sandwiches, pasta, wings, salads and ice cream.
Antioch Pizza Shop is looking for franchisees to open one or more locations in Northwest Indiana. They must invest between $135,000 and $495,500 and have a minimum net worth of $250,000.
For more information, visit antiochpizzashopfranchise.com or www.antiochpizzashop.com.
It’s game over, man, for GameStop in Dyer.
The video game retailer at 819 Joliet St. in the Dyer Town Center is having a going-out-of-business sale.
Gamers can still go to the nearby GameStop at 10345 Indianapolis Blvd. in the Highland Grove Shopping Center, which is much larger.
For more information, visit gamestop.com or call 219-864-1058.
Advance Auto Parts opened a new location in Crown Point Saturday.
The 89-year-old North Carolina-based retailer of aftermarket auto parts opened its latest Northwest Indiana store at 890 North Superior Drive. The chain already had 18 Advance Auto Parts and Carquest stores in the Calumet Region.
Crown Point Mayor David Uran and the Crown Point Police Department attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday. Advance Auto Parts donated gift cards to the police department so that any drivers they pull over who get a written notice for an equipment violation can turn it in to police headquarters to get a $25 Advance Auto Parts gift card to fix their vehicles.
For more information, visit advanceautoparts.com.
The McDonald’s was torn down at 1705 E. Commercial Ave. in Lowell so that it can be rebuilt with a more modern look.
It was one of the last remaining McDonald’s locations in the Region with the old design that included French fries on the roof. The iconic Chicago-based fast food chain is known for its Quarter Pounders, Big Macs, Chicken McNuggets, Filet-O-Fish sandwiches and countless other favorites.
Family Dollar has reopened its discount stores in Lake Station and Harvey after renovations.
The small format convenience stores at 2626 Central Ave. in Lake Station and 15930 Wood St. in Harvey sell necessities like food, household products and beauty products. After the renovations, they now have more freezers and coolers, as well as a wider selection, including of $1 Dollar Tree merchandise and seasonal items.
Both stores celebrated grand reopenings on Saturday.
“Family Dollar is proud to be a part of the Lake Station and Harvey communities and we are excited to welcome existing and new customers to our newly renovated stores,” said Jim Van Slyke, Family Dollar spokesman. “The refreshed stores will provide even greater values and convenience to our shoppers.”
The stores typically employ about six to 10 workers. Founded 55 years ago, Family Dollar now has more than 8,000 locations, mostly in underserved urban and rural communities. The Virginia-based company is a subsidiary of Dollar Tree.
For more information, visit FamilyDollar.com.
Aldi has reopened its newly renovated store at 1051 E. 162nd St. in South Holland.
The German-based discount retailer, known for cost-cutting maneuvers like in-store brands and shopping cart dispensers that require a quarter, is investing $5 billion to remodel its existing stores and open hundreds of new stores across the United States.
After the renovations, the South Holland Aldi now features a new design with natural lighting, open ceilings, a streamlined shopping experience and environmentally friendly materials.
The 12,000-square-foot store is filled with groceries, household essentials and produce that’s delivered fresh daily.
“Aldi continues to prioritize remodeling stores with one goal in mind: to provide the best grocery shopping experience,” said Heather McCarthy, Valparaiso division vice president for Aldi. “We are excited for South Holland residents to see the updated location, specifically designed to make shopping even easier, but Aldi fans can rest assured that the high-quality products and unbeatable value Aldi provides will remain unchanged.”
Aldi now has more than 700 stores across the country, with grocery delivery available to nearly 200 million people in 10,000 ZIP codes.
The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
If you would like your business to be included in a future column, email joseph.pete@nwi.com.
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Business Reporter
Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.
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Lawrence ‘Larry’ K. Hine
Larry Hine, of Crown Point, has a favorite expression shared at his barbershop, which is a storefront landmark along the Lake County Courthous…
“John’s been a big fixture in the Crown Point area for decades,” Crown Point Mayor David Uran said. “He always wore his heart on his sleeve and had the best interest of the city at heart.”
Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone works with a customer at Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop.
Larry Hine’s great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone has taken over the Larry’s Barber Shop, now Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop, after he died earlier this year.
Larry Hine’s great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone cuts a little customer’s hair at Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop in Crown Point.
Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone cuts hair at what is now Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop.
Larry Hine’s great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone has taken over the Larry’s Barber Shop, now Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop, after he died earlier this year.
Uncle Larry’s Barbershop in downtown Crown Point is shown.
Uncle Larry’s Barbershop in downtown Crown Point is shown.
The revolving barber’s pole outside of Larry’s Barber Shop in Crown Point serves as his business beacon, welcoming customers. Larry Hine’s great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone has taken over the business after he died earlier this year.
Larry Hine, owner of Larry’s Barber Shop in downtown Crown Point, died earlier this year. His great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone has taken over the business to keep his legacy going.
Larry Hine’s great-niece Alexandria “Alex” Pampalone has taken over the Larry’s Barber Shop, now Uncle Larry’s Barber Shop, after he died earlier this year.
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