The Spirit of Community in Delano is defined by the
Creativity, Resilience, and Community Investment of its people.
Stein Barber Shop
The Stein family’s barbering legacy in Delano began with Armand Stein, who started at the Bock Barber Shop in 1912 at just eight years old, shining shoes and lathering customers for shaves. Licensed as a barber at only 15, Armand later traveled to California, where he cut the hair of several Hollywood actors before returning to Delano and opening Stein’s Barber Shop in 1932. Armand retired in 1978 after 61 years of barbering, while his son Fran, who joined him in 1967, continued the family tradition. When the historic River Street building was demolished by controlled burn in 2006, Fran moved the shop to Bridge Avenue, preserving its original backbar, 1917 barber chairs, and rare hand-cranked barber pole. He continued barbering until selling the shop in 2025. Together, Armand and Fran Stein provided Delano with an extraordinary 119 years of barbering service spanning two generations.
Armand Stein
Armand was the youngest son of John Louis Stein, an early saloonist in Delano and one of the builders of the Brick Block Building on Bridge Street. Armand started working in the Bock barber shop in 1912. He was eight years old and started off by shining shoes and lathering faces for shaves.
August Bock, Hamilton, Charlie and Fred Bock, Armand Stein (in chair), Carl “Rooster” Eckman, Eddie Bock.
During World War I, there was a shortage of barbers in Delano, because many the barbers went to work in defense plants for the war effort. Armand’s brother-in-law, Charlie Bock, took him to the governor, and the governor granted the 15-year-old his license.
In 1922, Armand headed to Seattle with his barber equipment, eventually going to Los Angeles, and then Hollywood. The Delano Eagle reported in 1925 that Armand was very enthusiastic about California. He cut the hair of several celebrities, including Hoot Gibson, Thomas Meighan, William Boyd (better known as Hopalong Cassidy) and many other well known actors. But in 1926 Armand returned to Delano, working for various barbers. In 1932 he opened his own shop, known for years as Stein’s Barber Shop.
Stein Barber Shop on left; Bartlett & Kiefer Bar on right
Armand Stein and Carl Eckman in Stein’s Barber Shop, 1946
Fran Stein
Armand’s son, Fran Stein, began working with him in Stein’s Barber Shop in 1967 after graduating from barber school. He barbered out of the same shop for 39 years.
Stein’s Barber Shop on River Street was in a building built in 1880. It was originally a hook and ladder company. The north part of the building was added in 1917. In the 1920’s and early 1930’s it was known as Peschek’s Hardware building. Bartlett and Kiefer’s Tavern was in the building until 1941, when A.J. Boyce bought it to house the Boyce Funeral Parlor. Other businesses that were in the building over the years included a television and repair shop, a sports shop, Art Russek’s propane gas shop, and the Putkammer Insurance Agency and Intercom Technology.
In 2006 Stein’s Barber Shop building on River Street, suffering from both foundation and roof problems, was burned down in a controlled burn.
But history was not lost…
Fran moved to 203 Bridge Ave., across the street from the Delano City Hall, taking history with him in the form of the backbar, chairs bought new in 1917, and the hand-cranked barber pole, of which there are only one or two of that type left in the country. Fran continued in the new location for nearly twenty more years, selling the shop in 2025. Armand barbered for 61 years, Fran for 58 years. Between the two of them, Delano was fortunate to have 119 years of barbering by the Steins.
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