Transcript
After Dino Colla came Guido Mantovanini, who later became the director of this establishment and who worked alongside Colla for some time, during a period of transition between his management and Colla’s.
Meanwhile my father, Franco Bompieri, arrived in Milan in 1945 and began working as a barber in the city. He worked in different places and eventually arrived here, around 1962, where he met Mantovanini. Mantovanini told him: come work here, let me see what you can do.
Little by little things went well, and this place became well known again, as it once was, until in the 1970s they decided to work together on a managerial level, running the barbershop. Then in 1975 Franco became the sole owner of Barberia Colla, because, sadly, Mantovanini passed away.
Franco was a man who truly loved life and enjoyed celebrating. I remember, when I was a child, that sometimes during lunch breaks or after working hours friends would stay here. This became a place to talk and laugh.
Under his leadership this place thrived, because he was great with people and had many interests that connected him — not only to clients for his skill with hair, but also because they shared common passions. He lived a double life: he was also a writer at night. There is a well-known legend that says he would write at night — and it is true, because there are books that prove it.
He loved this place deeply, and I believe people could feel it. Because when you do things with your heart, people can feel it. So perhaps this is the soul of Barberia Colla. It has always been. With Franco this place experienced a time of great brilliance. Everything went very well — and now it is our turn.