Originally published November 2nd 2023

As you step into Linda’s Alpha Omega, you’re immediately enveloped in a warm atmosphere of joy. It’s not just a place to get your hair done; it’s a hub of community activity. The salon buzzes with life from morning until night, at least five days a week. It’s here that you’ll find a group of ladies being pampered by a team of experts, mostly in the realm of ladies’ hair. Linda, the owner, offers a sweet compliment every time I see her, and this time was no different.

Jim Moghabghob, a seasoned professional with an illustrious career spanning back to the late ’50s, works his magic at Linda’s Alpha Omega. During a recent visit to the salon, I had the pleasure of watching him work with one of his clients. At a spry 98 years old, Celia, who played the piano at Salisbury’s tricentennial in 1938, has been a loyal client of Jim’s for the past 47 years. Every Friday at 11:30 a.m., her favorite moment of the week arrives when Jim, with a touch of nostalgia, tends to her hair.

When you’re in Jim’s presence, he effortlessly commands the room. He playfully tosses around old jokes, affectionately addresses his friends with time-honored nicknames, and even bestows new friends with names like “Bubba,” which he now greets me with.

Jim’s artistry and charm seamlessly guided our conversation from the history of Uncle Eddie to his surprising perspective on the man behind the legendary pepper steaks of Salisbury Beach.

Uncle Eddie, the namesake of Salisbury’s cherished dive bar, had a fascinating journey to becoming a local legend. Born before the turn of the century, he immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, from Lebanon, before eventually making his way to Salisbury Beach. There, he carved out his niche as a restaurateur and bar owner at the playground of the Atlantic, etching his name onto an iconic bar marquee.

Uncle Eddie’s claim to fame lay in popularizing the pepper steaks sold at beachside restaurants. He proudly declared himself the sole reason behind the pepper steak’s regional popularity, a claim that Jim, with a twinkle of skepticism, disputes. Jim firmly believes that it was a collaborative effort among the three brothers who ventured to Salisbury Beach with a recipe learned from their work on Coney Island.

Jim’s uncle was the very Uncle Eddie for whom Salisbury’s favorite dive bar was named. Over the years, the bar changed hands until 2005 when Mike Pacheco took over from Bevie B. Even today, you might stumble upon a magical night at Uncle Eddie’s. Beyond its weathered exterior, the bar’s interior holds the spirit of the ‘80s, adorned with vintage memorabilia, bathroom graffiti, and cherished Salisbury memories.

Jim’s perspective not only reveals the captivating history of Salisbury Beach and its lively characters but also reminds us that local dive bars, every landmark, and each beauty salon house the town’s history and the stories of those who’ve made their mark.

As we reflect on our past and embrace how it shaped the present, we can’t overlook the importance of characters like the Uncle Eddies and Jims in our communities. They stand as the guardians of the Northeast frontier, custodians of our shared memories, and the protectors of the stories that make our towns unique. In Salisbury Beach, they persistently stitch together the tapestry of history, one curl and one conversation at a time.