With a view overlooking the baseball diamond at Cretin-Derham Hall, Schmidty’s Sports Barbers, owned and operated for 20 years by John Schmidt of Saint Paul, has become the go-to stop for athletes and non-athletes alike. After buying the shop, formerly known as the Family Hair Care Center, Schmidt revamped the Randolph Avenue location by adding several high-definition televisions and sports memorabilia, drawing in younger audiences but keeping the authentic “old school” feel of a walk-in barber shop.
While many locals come here because it’s a great place for a guy to get a reasonably priced, quality haircut, Schmidty’s also has been frequented by many professional athletes, notably Minnesota Twins’ star Joe Mauer. “I got to know Joe when I coached football at Cretin,” Schmidt says of his relationship with the star catcher and first baseman. “And once he finally made the big leagues, his brothers convinced him to have a seat in one of my chairs.”
Schmidt takes pride in building a relationship with customers through the years, treating them all the same, famous or not. “I always make a point to give something special to everyone without giving special treatment for anyone specific,” he says.
