Local hair salon run without air conditioning, despite high temperatures

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – All week, much of Western New York has been locked in the summer heat. In that kind of heat, a local business in Buffalo’s Lovejoy neighborhood was put on hold.

The owner refuses to give Bob’s Barber Shop access to air conditioning, causing the temperature inside to rise. Now this company has contacted Call for Action.

The barbershop is located at 1214 East Lovejoy St. and has been in business for years, but there has been a dispute over who controls the air temperature inside.

With temperatures this week in the 80s, it’s pretty warm inside the barbershop, run by Bob Dettelis. About a year ago, he said, the building’s owner, Carousel Development Corporation, removed the thermostat and moved it to another part of the building behind a locked door to save on energy costs.

Dettelis and customers who visit say it gets hot and cold when the weather changes, making working conditions difficult. Dettelis’ lease stipulates that he should have control of the thermostat.

A letter from Dettelis’ attorney, Kathleen Lindhardt, to Carousel Development on March 7 reads:

“(…) you are in default under the terms of your rental contract dated August 15, 2022”, (…) “the tenant had to have exclusive control of the thermostat”, (…) “despite my client’s protests against the The location of the thermostat, it was placed in the back office which is kept locked.

News 4 went to the barbershop Wednesday to meet with Dettelis.

“When that sun hit those windows it was dripping, you’d get wet, usually I have 5, 6, 7 guys in here at one point where they start sweating, it’s tough,” Dettelis said.

Customers also say that it is very hot in the hair salon.

“Right now it’s hot under this thing here, I imagine on hot days with the sun coming in it’s probably even worse,” said one customer.

News 4’s Jeff Preval contacted a manager at Carousel Development who works across the street. She confirmed that the thermostat had been moved due to energy costs. The manager was quite aggressive with us, saying that Dettelis could sue them. She also said the air conditioning was on.

News 4 spent a few hours at Bob’s Barber Shop and didn’t feel any cool air coming through the vents. The manager also asked us to contact his lawyer. Dettelis says he contacted the Erie County Health Department about the matter.

News 4 is in contact with the county health department about heating and cooling issues.