Joe Damonte, the owner of Durango Barbers, was a chef for 35 years before stumbling upon barbering. He catered major events like Super Bowl XXX and taught culinary classes through Colorado Mountain College.
After selling his restaurant, Damonte attended Emily Griffith College and earned his barbering license. The first barbershop he cut at was the Gentleman’s Barber Shop in Frisco, CO. He found that beards were pretty popular in mountain towns and began to specialize in beard shaping, straight razor shaves, and men’s haircuts.
He first visited Durango for a motorcycle rally and grew to love the community. A year and a half later, he moved to Durango and opened his own shop in 2022. With services catering to old-fashioned barber experiences, he has built up a loyal client base—so much so that he was able to add another chair to his space and welcome Bianca Drebenstedt to the shop.
Durango Barbers offers an array of services, from traditional men’s haircuts to bald fades, pompadours, undercuts, mohawks, and mullets. Each service is finished with a straight razor shave—a lost art among many barbers, but a crucial part of the experience. “I call it the men’s spa treatment,” said Damonte.
Damonte and Drebenstedt deliver the highest quality service to the community. Google reviews rave about their great haircuts and fantastic customer care. Damonte said, “We make people feel good about themselves. They leave stoked and feel good when they get their haircut.”
Inspired by the Gentleman’s Barbershop, Damonte has created a classic vintage aesthetic blended with ’70s and ’80s vibes. “I got that whole gangster theme that rolls into the musicians and movie stars that have all been arrested. It just gives it that rougher gangster feel—it’s fun.”
Damonte feels very fortunate to be part of the Durango community. He was a member of the Durango Chamber and attended multiple meetings and events. Meeting new faces and forming new connections, he saw people show up to the shop eager to support him and his business. He said, “This community is really strong and great in that way. They want to support all the local businesses—they really do. We are lucky to have that.”
Located underneath the balcony on College and Main, be sure to check out Durango Barbers and schedule an appointment!
Barbering is all about crisp lines, tight cuts, and straight razors.