This "Legend in Barbershop History" Cuts to the Core...

The Beatles Almost Did Us In! After 60 years of barbering, Mike Alsum learned when things get tough, plunge back in...

Mike is the epitome of living the small town life: his love for his community, people, and hard work at his Fairway Barber Shop are legendary. But what happens when things don’t go as planned? Mike’s straight talk and practical solutions are a cut above when it comes to perseverance and being thankful.

IPI: You’ve lived through a pandemic. Have any other world events impacted your business?

The Beatles!

They almost put the barber profession out of business. Ten years after their US Tour, 60% of the barbers were out of business. Before then, people would get a haircut every two to three weeks.

AP

There were so many hard feelings in families then because of hair!

Fathers did not let their sons have it. As soon as the son got older, I lost him because he rebelled against the strictness. But once the son started seeing his grandfather wearing long hair, his long hair was over.

How did I handle it? Instead of getting out of the business, my wife and I plunged into it. Connie quit her job at radio station KGMI’s electronics department where she made computer parts, and went to Beauty School in the late seventies. In the meantime I took a job sweeping floors at night for a School District.

While she was in school, we bought a beauty shop for her to run in the old Land Title Office at Hinotes Corner. In two years, we bought a lot across the road, built a 2,000 foot commercial building for her salon, eventually sold that, then Connie started a shop a few doors down from my current one in the Fairway Shopping Center.

As time went on, we lost our retirement savings in a bad local investment, and our daughter and granddaughter lost their lives in a tragic car accident. It was devastating, but we kept on.

When COVID hit, business fell 35-40%. I had to close the shop for two and a half months, and it drove me nuts.

You wanted to see the world. So why a barber shop?

I like hair and I like people.

My intention was to have my own business. When I was 17, I knew I would have a business of some type. Maybe the store, but my dad had a heart attack.

So I went through the barber school in Bellingham owned back then by long-time Lynden barber, David Dyke, got my license in April, 1961, and I have had it ever since.

I’ve always cut hair, including on the side when I joined the Navy to see the world. But I just saw Seattle and Chicago. When my wife and I moved to the small Dutch town of Lynden, there were only a handful of barbers. As far as I know, and I may be wrong, I am the only barber from that same generation that is still barbering full time.

What was it about small towns that impacted your life, and your business?

I've lived in small towns most of my life. I’m very grateful for growing up in the small border town of Sumas after we moved from Wisconsin when I was 11 (population was about 600 then).

Mike (Myron), his parents, and brother James lived at the general store in Sumas (when gas was 32 cents a gallon) after moving from Wisconsin.

It had a roller skating rink, bowling alley, and movie house. I enjoyed hearing the stories of the customers in the general mercantile grocery and gas store my family owned. We all lived in the store including my parents, brother Jim, and sister Selma. It was a fun place to hang out.

I got kicked out of high school for a few days because my hair was too long, but I liked going to the barber shop where the good ol’ boys talked about hunting, fishing, and had a lot of interesting stories.

In a small town, everyone knows each other. In a way, it’s like a big family that knows the goods and the bads, and watches out for each other. Since I’ve served thousands of people over time, on Memorial Day when I walk around the Lynden cemetery, every fifth stone is one of my customers. I can tell a little story about each one!

You’ve spent a lot of days next to your barber chair. What makes each day interesting for you?

Because of the store, I was always around customers. All my life I have been dealing with people.

Customers are like family.

Handwritten on reverse: Myron giving Lawrence a haircut at Wiser Lake, 1964, from Aunt Jennie. (Mike is my stage name. I started my business in 1964 when I bought the shop for $50 by shaking hands - no paperwork or anything. Haircuts were $1.25.)

And you don't need a gift of gab. You need to be a good listener. Find out what people’s interests are. Sometimes you get to hear funny stories, sometimes tragic ones.

Customers don’t pay me to hear my troubles, or my life history. They came to tell you theirs.

If I ask any retired customer what they did in life, you open up an encyclopedia. I have a gentle touch? I did not realize that, but that is natural too. You don’t develop it.

Do I ever get bored? No. If it’s slow, I like to read or listen to the radio. You will never get bored if you like to read.

A perfect day? One that is very busy - where I don’t screw up anyone’s haircut.

Your motivation and inspiration behind all this?

Enjoying what you are doing is the simple answer. If not, when it comes to personal services, you won’t be a success.

And I am grateful for barbering.

What are some of the secrets of life that you’ve picked up along the way that you'd like to share?

You’ll be no good at dealing with people if you do not like them. A person can pick up immediately if you are interested in them or not. Never put all your eggs in one basket...or money in someone else's hands.

Don’t ever leave angry with a family member or friends. You'll never know what a day will bring. COVID for example.

Get an occupation or job you enjoy. That is very important because you spend most of you life doing it. It gives you a reason to get up in the morning.

What would you like the next generation of business owners to hear?

If you go into the business, you have to enjoy people. It’s attitude, attitude, attitude.

I just signed up for a new five year lease. I have no intention of retiring until one morning, I can’t find the shop.

Mike’s Fairway Barber Shop

Mike bought the Fairway shop from long-time barber Cliff Fast. It is wedged between Connections Christian Store and Fairway Cafe, located in the popular Fairway Shopping Center.

1728 Front St., Lynden, WA 360-354-2241

No appointment necessary. Just walk in, enjoy a great cut, and as icing on the cake, the free chat!

Not only does Mike find his way to his shop each day, he thrives there as he greets and serves each customer.

A 5-star online review says “Mike is a legend in barbershop history in Lynden.” His gentle touch, above-and-beyond service (he always asks me when almost finished, “How about a little off your eyebrows?”), and engaging and informed conversation about nearly anything makes it more than just a haircut.

It’s an experience with a friend. Steve Hortegas loves people and writing. He's enjoyed hearing people's stories as a market researcher in places of commerce, a funeral director in his community, and now a healthcare professional, helping people stay out of the funeral home. He and his wife Lori enjoy the PNW and being a part of the unfolding story of their four children and three sons-in-law.