Rialto Barber Shop

Sorry for the inconvenience. The shop will reopen on Wednesday 12-5:30. Thank you Rialto customers and friends.

💈 Rialto Barber Shop History Series: Post #8
Swedes Pond, Munchback’s Farm, and the Simple Joys of Old Roslindale
Long before the neighborhood grew into the bustling community we know today, Roslindale was filled with rolling farmland, natural springs, and hidden neighborhood gems. One of the most cherished of these was Swedes Pond, located right at the dead end of June Street (just off Beech Street), nestled beside Munchback’s Egg Farm.
Throughout the mid-20th century, Swedes Pond wasn't just a body of water—it was the true heartbeat of the surrounding neighborhood:
• Sunday Festivals at the Gazebo: Every Sunday, neighbors of all different backgrounds—Polish, Lithuanian, Italian, Syrian, Greek, and more—gathered around the pond’s gazebo. It was a vibrant melting pot where families shared food, music, and laughter.
• Seasons of Fun: Summers brought swimming, fishing, and kids sneaking through the woods by the George Wright Golf Course to jump into the water. Winters turned the pond into a bustling ice-skating rink with hot chocolate served to warm everyone up!
• Natural Springs & Mini Ponds: The surrounding woods were dotted with smaller spring-fed ponds filled with minnows—a natural paradise for local kids exploring the outdoors.
• Farm Goods & Pony Rides: Next door at Munchback’s, families bought fresh eggs, and nearby, kids posed for photos on a mini pony. In fact, our own Bob Aliano remembered heading down to the pony rides with his sister—a classic slice of Roslindale childhood.
🌳 The Era of Change
As Boston expanded in the post-WWII era, much of the natural landscape shifted to meet the growing need for housing. In 1964, Swedes Pond was filled in to make way for the surrounding development that became High Point Village.
When the pond was first filled, the space was initially preserved for the community as a ballfield and playground. The ballfield was later named Claudio Field in solemn memory of a local boy lost to the neighborhood—a place that continued to hold deep meaning for area families.
📜 Preserving Our Past as We Build the Future
Looking back at places like Swedes Pond and Munchback’s Farm reminds us of what makes Roslindale so special: our deep sense of community, our shared cultural roots, and the green sanctuaries that brought us together.
As our neighborhood experiences new growth today, remembering Swedes Pond carries an important lesson. As we build for the future, we must champion the preservation of our historic landmarks, our green spaces, and the local anchors that give Roslindale its unique character.
Progress is natural, but preserving our shared stories, parks, and roots ensures that the spirit of Roslindale stays strong for generations to come.
Do you remember the gazebo at Swedes Pond, Munchback's Farm, or playing at Claudio Field? Share your memories and photos in the comments below! 👇

💈 RIALTO BARBER HISTORY POST #7…
Saturday Nights at the 4040 Club 🎶
If you look down Washington Street toward Bradeen Street today, you’ll see the modern condos at 4040 Washington. But if you step into the Rialto Barber Shop time machine and dial it back to the late 1950s and 1960s, that exact corner was home to one of the most vibrant nightlife spots on the Roslindale line: The Forty-Forty Lounge (or simply, the 4040 Club).

Long before downtown Boston transformed into the "Combat Zone" of the late 1960s, our outer neighborhoods boasted their very own high-end entertainment. You didn't need to take the elevated train downtown for a glamorous night out—Roslindale had it all right here.

By the time the late 50s and 60s rolled around, the 4040 Club was the ultimate weekend spot for a young generation of locals. Imagine bright neon lights reflecting off polished leather booths, the clinking of cocktail glasses, and a live house band playing the popular swing and lounge hits of the era. On Friday and Saturday nights, the dance floor would pack out with couples dressing up to escape the workweek.

Our very own legendary Rialto barber, Bob Aliano, was right in the middle of it all. Back then, Bob gave the finest haircuts in Roslindale by day, but when the weekend rolled around, he and his beautiful wife Eileen, along with a close-knit circle of friends, would head down to the 4040 Club.

We can just picture a young Bob—sharp as a tack, fresh haircut, shoes shined—leading Eileen onto that hardwood floor while the band swung into a favorite tune. It was a golden era of neighborhood camaraderie, where the same people you saw at the barbershop or the market were the ones spinning around the dance floor next to you.

By the late 1960s, television, suburban expansion, and changing tastes brought the curtain down on Boston's great outer-neighborhood supper clubs. The 4040 Club faded into history, but the memories of those magical Saturday nights live on.

We love keeping these neighborhood memories alive here at the shop, and we find comfort in picturing Bob and Eileen back at the 4040, the music playing, the room full of laughter, dancing the night away. ❤️

Drop a comment below if you or your parents remember the 4040 Club, the 4P's, or the old Roslindale Pub! What was your favorite neighborhood hangout back in the day?

So sorry for the inconvenience. Due to illness, Vicky will be back to the shop on Monday at 12pm. Nick will be at the shop this week: Wed-Fri 12:15-5:30pm and Saturday 12:15-4pm . Thank you for your patience and understanding Rialto customers and friends.

Rialto Barber Shop history post #6…
🥊 THE OLD GYM & THE ROSLINDALE SQUARED CIRCLE 🥊
Long before modern fitness franchises arrived, Roslindale had a true boxing culture. This community produced fighters who were known for being tough, disciplined, and hard-working—traits synonymous with the neighborhood.
Locals will remember the various gym locations over the years (often connected to local community spaces like the Community Center or even backrooms on Poplar). We had our own South Side Gym beside the bowling alley on Washington Street in the Square. This is where young people came to learn the sweet science under legendary local coaches. The dedication you saw in those boxing rings was matched by the dedication of the barbers in our shop.
We cut hair for the champions, the trainers, and the fans. Our three-chair shop has always been a place where people from all walks of life—from athletes to civic workers—can come and feel part of something authentic. We represent a work ethic that defined Roslindale then and still defines us now. We fight to keep this tradition alive.

Rialto Barber Shop history post #5…
🎳 JOE RUBICO’S SUBTERRANEAN LANES (1928) 🎳
If you walked past the historic Art Deco Parkway Building at 4258 Washington Street back in the day, you were standing right above one of Roslindale’s greatest hidden hubs.
In 1928, local developer John Basile hired architect Maurice Levy specifically to design a custom, underground rear extension beneath the building. The goal? To build a massive subterranean playground for candlepin bowling and pool.
For decades, Joe Rubico’s Subterranean Bowling Alley & Pool Hall served as the heartbeat of neighborhood recreation. Joe Rubico himself managed the lanes and even worked on early automatic pin-setting mechanics right there under the Square!
Generations of local bowlers and pool players would walk down those steps, spend hours on the lanes, and then head right up the street to the Rialto Barber Shop to get cleaned up and catch up on local news.
The lanes in that basement may be gone today, but the stories of the Parkway Building and the characters who filled it remain a core part of our neighborhood's legacy. We are proud to keep that same 1920s Roslindale spirit alive at 713 South Street!

Rialto Barber Shop history post #4
🛍️ PARKSNOW’S & THE SOUTH STREET RETAIL ERA 🛍️
If you look out our front window today, you see Adams Park right across the street. But if you take a short walk just up South Street to where the supermarket parking lot sits now—you’d be standing right where Park Snow’s used to welcome shoppers. (Opened in 1916)
Long before that lot was paved, Park Snow’s was the undisputed crown jewel of Roslindale’s commercial district. For decades, it was the department store where generations of local families bought everything from Sunday best to back-to-school clothes.
During the mid-20th century peak of the Rialto era, a trip to the Square was an all-day neighborhood event. You’d get a fresh haircut at the Rialto, walk past the park, and head right up the street into Park Snow’s for your weekend shopping.

Rialto Barber Shop history post #3 ..

💈 104 YEARS OF HISTORY RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR WINDOWS! 💈

Ever wonder what this view looked like before the park was here?

Roslindale Square underwent its ultimate transformation nearly 104 years ago, and our shop has had a front-row seat for all of it.

Right across the street where Irving W. Adams Park sits today, the land has lived many lives:

1805: It started as Taft’s Tavern, a bustling stagecoach stop for travelers riding between Boston and Providence.

The Mid-1800s: It became the Union Inn until a devastating fire destroyed the entire top section of the building.

The Late 1800s: The surviving structure adapted, housing a local school that leased out two rooms.

The Turn of the Century: Busy retail stores and markets actively lined the Poplar Street side, packed tightly right against the edge of the property.

1900: The main building officially became the very first Roslindale Branch Library.

1919: The old structures were finally torn down to create the dedicated civic green space we love today—Adams Park!

The Streetcar Era: As horse carriages faded, electric streetcars began rumbling straight past the Rialto Barber Shop, exactly as you can see in the photo! Tracks carved through the pavement right outside our windows, turning the Square into a fast-paced transit hub that connected Rozzie residents directly to Forest Hills and downtown Boston

Meanwhile, right across the street...As the old library was being demolished in 1919, the hooks and counters of the Roslindale Public Market cleared out of 713 South Street. The barber chairs were bolted down, the doors swung open, and the Rialto Barber Shop era officially began!

From horse-drawn carriages and old electric streetcars to the vibrant neighborhood we share today, the Rialto has remained Roslindale’s ultimate constant, preserving a chair that’s been a part of local history for over a century.

The Rialto Barber Shop is glad to share regular historic stories of our shop and the surrounding area of the square! 📜💈

Rialto Barber Shop history post #2…
Continuing our look back at the history of the Rialto... here is another snippet of our history, with more to come! 📜

The deep historical roots of the Rialto Barber Shop weave through the literal transformation of the street corner where it sits.
The Namesake Connection: The Rialto Theatre.
The Barber Shop actually owes its name to a neighborhood entertainment icon that once stood right next door.
The Neighbor: The building opened next to the Rialto Theatre (originally built in 1915 as the Roslindale Theatre and renamed the Rialto by the 1920s).
A Saturday Tradition: For decades, the local routine for generations of Roslindale children was a fresh trim at the barbershop followed directly by a movie matinee next door.
The Landscape Shifts: The theater closed its doors in 1973 as massive retail shifts pulled traffic away to regional suburban malls. The theater building was eventually torn down, but the barbershop survived the economic dip, remaining a steadfast landmark.
To be continued…

Rialto Barber shop history post #1…
In the days ahead, Rialto Barber Shop will be sharing stories about its legacy and history in Roslindale Square. Beginning with..
The historic Rialto Barber Shop in Roslindale Square is the neighborhood's oldest continuously operating business, tracing its roots back to 1919. Over a century, the shop has changed ownership four times while preserving its traditional, old-school charm and dedication to the local community.
The Early Years (1919): Space originally occupied by the "Roslindale Public Market" before the storefront transitioned into the barbershop.
The Bob Aliano Era (1959–2012): Bob Aliano bought the shop at age 21 in 1959 and ran it for over five decades, becoming a beloved neighborhood fixture who gave generations of local kids their first haircuts.
The Vicky Elias Era (2012–Present): Vicky Elias, who began working alongside Aliano in the 1990s as the shop's first woman barber, officially purchased the business in 2012. Aliano continued cutting hair from his signature first chair well into his late eighties until his passing in early 2026.
Community Legacy: Recognized by the City of Boston as an official Legacy Business and honored by the City Council as the longest-running business in Roslindale Village. Maintained its classic three-chair setup, serving local families, public workers, and generations of residents from the exact same South Street location.
More stories to come..