The Antica Barbieria Colla barbershop was opened in the heart of Milan in 1904 by Dino Colla, a barber from the city of Ferrara. He never served customers himself, but rather trained his staff to guarantee a high level of service to his clients. After a few years of its opening, Antica Barbieria Colla, thanks to its great success, began to be considered a kind of gentlemen's club in the style of the British ones.

 

        After this great success, Dino Colla began to look for bigger premises, in 1919 he moved to via Verdi 2, on the corner of via Manzoni, opposite the La Scala theater. In the new location, Antica Barbieria Colla experienced its greatest fame and recognition. The barbershop was considered a kind of institution, given that all official institutions also visited the barbershop. Colla's success lasted until August 1943, when the Piazza Scala and its surroundings were leveled by bombing, causing the barber shop to close for nine months. Antica Barbieria Colla reopened on April 1, 1944 at via Gerolamo Morone 3 (current location).

 

        Of its many employees, only one, Guido Mantovanini, waited loyally for the reopening. His dedication was duly rewarded when he became the sole heir to the business after the death of Dino Colla in February 1949. On January 16, 1960, barber Franco Bompieri, who had fresh experience from the Hotel Continentale, joined Antica Barbieria Colla. Thus began a sincere and enthusiastic alliance, and the barbershop flourished even more thanks to the clientele brought in by Franco Bompieri.

 

        In 1965, together with Guido Mantovani, Franco became another shareholder, each with a 50% stake. Their collaboration lasted a total of thirteen years until Guido Mantovanini fell ill in 1973; therefore, two years later, in 1975, Franco Bompieri became the sole shareholder of the barbershop, which was already very well-respected in Milan.