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TagsBY LINDA MOSS
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Anthony Lombardi
Age: 35
Resides: Fairfield
Owner of Anthony Robert Salon, Verona
Stylist at Gatsby Salon, Green Brook
Anthony Lombardi is the only male cast member of Style Network's reality show "Jerseylicious." But then, he's used to being out numbered by women in the hair-salon world. In fact, that's the reason he took up hairdressing roughly 15 years ago.
"I originally got into this business, to be honest with you, to meet girls," Lombardi said. "If you're a straight guy in this business, it's like fishing in your bathtub with dynamite — in the beginning."
But times have changed. Lombardi is now a family man who owns his own salon, Anthony Robert Salon, in Verona.
"I got married," he said. "I had my son. Now, I can actually make a living doing this. So what became a great way to meet women, and meet pretty women, became a love, a life's love. I don't own a salon to meet women. I own a salon to support my family. To me it's come full circle, almost."RELATED STORIES:
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But Lombardi was doing renovations on his business, when his sister, who knows some people who worked at Gatsby Salon, the setting of "Jerseylicious," suggested he moonlight there while his salon was closed for renovations.
Lombardi is often the peacemaker in spats between the younger women in "Jerseylicious," and he enjoys that role, as well as offering career advice.
"They're like little sisters to me, these girls," he said. "They're great."
Sarah Weidman, Style Network's senior vice president of development and new series, believes Lombardi brings a warm-heartedness to "Jerseylicious."
"I love Anthony," Weidman said. "Talk about the guy with too many sisters around! It's a lot of women, but we celebrate Anthony and do not forget about him at all. He's fantastic."
Style Network has shot some scenes of "Jerseylicious" at Lombardi's Verona salon, and his family is in the show.
"We filmed at The Brownstone during my niece's christening," he said. "We filmed at my home in Fairfield."
The Brownstone is owned by the family of one of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" cast members. Some of that Bravo show was shot at that Paterson catering hall.
Lombardi said his family is happy that he is doing "Jerseylicious."
Maybe that's because they've all been players in it, including his wife, their 9-month-old son, his sister, his brother-in-law, and his mother and father.
"It's been fun working here (Gatsby)," Lombardi said. "I've been a boss for four years now at my salon. So coming here and almost being able to sit back a little bit and relax and watch Gayle and Christy run the shop, it's been nice because I'm able to concentrate more on my renovations, my salon, my family.
Lombardi claims that his favorite reality programming is on the Food Network.
Let's go to the Belmont. You get the "beeps" and I'll get a triple savoy.
Liv