After 47 years cutting hair in West Seattle, John Burmaz, 70, has decided to hang up his clippers. Burmaz, who operates Alki Style & Barber Shop, 5040 California Ave. SW, across the street from Rite Aid Pharmacy, will retire Dec. 31.

Moving into his space Jan. 3 will be The Classic Barber & Style Shop, in the Alaska Junction since 1927. Owner Keith Grayson and Julie Dodson will still be with the shop at the new location, but will retain their current 937-4447 phone number.

Burmaz said now is the best time for him to retire, since he is in good physical shape and can enjoy his free time. He has been running since 1975, and goes six miles, three times a week, and also works out three times a week at 24 Hour Fitness.

"It's the end of an era because I'm one of the last of the traditional old barbers that still shaves around the ears with soap, and shaves faces using a straight razor," said Burmaz, who cuts his own somewhat bushy, white hair himself because, he said, "The price is right and I always seem to get what I want."

Burmaz began his career working at George's, across the street from the Admiral Theater, on Aug. 25, 1964. A year later, he said, Don Jahnke and Martin Picinich bought the barbershop from George and Burmaz stayed with them for four years, then answered an ad for the Alki Barber Shop which was for sale, and bought that business in 1969. He moved to his current location 20 years later.

"I was at 2760 Alki (Ave.) next to Pegasus Pizza," he said. "Then Pegasus bought the building I was in and combined the two spaces. So I came here.
In this spot before me was a telephone soliciting business. All these telephone jacks were next to the cubicles."

He pointed to numerous painted-over light switch plate covers still visible.

"They worked in two shifts, and called to pester you to buy this or buy that," he recalled.

"I have always worked for myself," he said with pride. "I've been very successful as a barber because I've listened to what people want, and have been thorough in my work. People appreciate that. The hair (I cut) is even and well blended."

He also avoided touchy conversations with customers.

"I try to stay away from talking religion or politics," he said. "It's a no-win deal. It opens up a pandora's box and you can hit a raw nerve. I'm not here to aggravate people. I'm here to cut hair."

While he considers himself old school, he did have to change with the times.

He explained, "I had to learn to adapt to the new styles. Back until '64 it was pretty much the era of the Korean War, and short hair. Then Beatles came in and I recognized I had to get on the bandwagon and learn how to cut long hair. Many barbers fell by the wayside. When I went to hair style seminars and workshops you didn't see people in their 40's or older at all. The older barbers didn't adapt and didn't make it."

Burmaz seems to have done well. He said he has made six trips to Europe since 1989, and has visited Hawaii 14 times. He plans to continue to travel, but has a home in Mesa, Arizona, where he will retire with Jennette, his girlfriend of 27 years. He will spend summers at his West Seattle home near Westwood Village to visit his sons, Rick and Ken, and two grandchildren.

An eclectic array of customers sit in his barber chair, including Al Jones, a long-time Robinson News employee who lives in Fauntleroy.

"I've gone here 42 years," said Jones, 79, in for a cut. "We'll talk about the Mariners, Seahawks, our kids. His kids were (West Seattle) Herald carriers in the '70's. He used to cut my hair into a DA, a 'Duck's Ass'. I wore one until about 1975."

"For a couple years I've been coming here," said Jon Moor, an eighth-grade math teacher at Denny. "John cut my grandfather's hair. I tried a few other guys and by far his was the best cut. I guess I'll try the next barber who moves in."

Alan Painter, King County Executive Dow Constantine's policy advisor for human services, has been coming in here 20 some years, he said. "It's always been the same hair style. I call it a 'handsome hair style'. I lived for quite a while in the Lincoln Park area and have since moved to the East Side. I still come here for the haircut and to see my father who lives here in West Seattle."

While Burmaz is leaving his business, and West Seattle legacy behind, he will continue to serve.

"I intend to take care of family and friends during the summers back here in West Seattle," he said.

So how is he going to do that without a shop? Out of his home, he said.

"The chair is going with me. You just pick it up and carry it out the door."