Continuing with our exploration of the small buildings in what was once known as the West Center District. Jimmy Gentile opened his shop in the West Center District only after his longtime partner, Michael W. Ojile, retired. Michael opened the doors to his new shop in 1933 after the building was constructed. The small building at 3544 Center was ideally located between the Hanscom Park and Field Club neighborhoods as well as the park and golf course with the same names. Jimmy joined him as a partner the following year.
Jimmy came from a family of barbers. His grandfather was a barber in the old country. After his father Sebastiano immigrated from Italy, he also went to work as a barber. His shop was located near their home in Little Italy at 1722 S 13th St. Jimmy apprenticed for his father before joining Michael on 35th and Center in 1934. The two worked together for the next 20 years. Mike retired in 1954 and passed away a year later. At that point, it would become Jimmy Gentile’s Barber Shop. After Jimmy’s son, Jim, joined the family business, it became Gentile & Son’s Barber Shop.
The business continued to thrive after the younger Gentile took over in 1999 after his father had passed away. He had the advantage of charging just $6 for haircuts because he knew he could rely on volume to pay the bills. It was so popular that customers would have to take a number and wait in line for their turn. At one point he had to post a sign that read “MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHO IS FIRST IN THE PARKING LOT OR BEHIND THE DOOR. PLEASE NO ARGUING. THANK YOU.” The number system also allowed customers to run errands without losing their place in line.
The shop was adorned with Husker football memorabilia and had a television in the corner with a VCR that continually played Husker games. “Nebraska never loses in here” he said in an interview with the Omaha World-Herald in 2001. That kept the men entertained (women didn’t typically patronize the shop) while the boys had handheld water games to play with. When it was time for youngsters to get their hair cut, Jim would place a board over the armrests of the barber chair to give them the necessary boost. When they got fussy, he’d give them a toy fire truck to play with.
Jim retired in 2013 which marked the end of an era in which this small, unassuming building ceased being used as a barbershop after 80 years. Jim didn’t seem to mind that his sons pursued other careers since they got benefits. In that same interview he said “When you’re the only guy here, you either cut or you starve”. Jim passed away in 2018. After that the small shop had become the home of Polished Nail Salon before being sold again in 2020.
Looking inside the small shop which is now Carter & Rye.
Kater (Carter) Anderson and Sarah (Rye) Ryan opened a small bakery which specializes in made-from-scratch hand pies using fresh, local ingredients in 2019. Soon afterwards, they moved into the small shop that for so long served as the home to the barbershop. Since then, Carter & Rye has established itself as a destination with lines stretching out the door that are reminiscent of Gentile’s. Its menu changes weekly and includes both sweet and savory options. The shop is typically open Fri-Sun unless the Aksarben Farmer’s Market is running in which case they close the shop and sell from their on Sun.
When Omaha was cited as one of the next great food cities by Food & Wine magazine in 2022, they mentioned Carter & Rye as being one of the reasons.
I should point out that while I focused on the eastern half of the building, the western half was originally a shoe repair shop as well as a burger joint, tropical fish store, TV shop and lawyer’s office.
I’d love to hear what you have to say so please feel free to comment. Until next time, keep exploring!
Bonus Pics
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