History
Two years after D'Ambrosio emigrated from Italy to the United States in 1961, he began working in his first hair salon.[1] D'Ambrosio opened his own shop, Diego's Hair Salon, in 1965.[2] Around 1980, he moved his business to its current location, The Moorings, a nautical-themed, former apartment building located at 1901 Q Street, N.W., in Dupont Circle.[1][3] The Moorings is an Art Deco-style building designed by architect Horace W. Peaslee in 1927 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
When he moved to The Moorings, D'Ambrosio raised the price of men's haircuts to $20, the same rate he charges today.[1] Rupert Cornwell of The Independent described Diego's as a "modest and friendly establishment and the photos on its walls capture Washington: unglamorous but beautiful, exuding power yet oddly homey, with history around every corner and great men's shadows on every wall."[4]
D'Ambrosio's honors
In 2009, D'Ambrosio was awarded the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity at the Italian Embassy. The ceremony was in recognition of D'Ambrosio's promoting his Italian heritage.[1] On April 23, 2010, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty joined other local government officials in designating the 1900 block of Q Street, N.W., as Diego D’Ambrosio Way (an alternative street name). The Diego D'Ambrosio Way Designation Act of 2010 "officially recognizes Diego's contributions to District of Columbia residents and the city’s business community."[2]
Famous clientele
Diego's clientele has included Supreme Court Justices Warren E. Burger and William Rehnquist, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former British Prime Minister John Major, Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Apostolic Nuncio Pietro Sambi, former Italian ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta, Mayor Adrian Fenty, and members of the D.C. Council.[1][5] According to D'Ambrosio, 75 ambassadors, 17 presidents and prime ministers, and other officials representing a total of 135 countries have used his services.[5]
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