Holben's Barber Shop run with passion

New Cashmere barbershop  
comes with history, passion

By Gary Bégin
CASHMERE - Holben's Barber Shop in Cashmere isn't your average "chop shop." The same location, chair and sports memorabilia that Darrel Davis had for 37 years is now being used by John Holben since May because he "likes old barbershops" and is eager to keep old traditions alive.
Because of that "like," Holben has gone out of his way to maintain as much of Davis' old shop as he can for at least a year before he adds his own personal touches.
"I will eventually install a classic barbershop checkerboard tile floor," he said. Another classic tradition Holben will keep is his use of the straight razor for haircuts and shaves. "I always make sure all haircuts are squared off in the back with the straight-edged razor. I'm also installing led lights."
Eventually Holben will add other sports memorabilia to dress-up the shop located at 122-1/2 Cottage Avenue here. It wasn't too easy for Davis to let go of his life's work. In fact Holben inquired about buying the shop and Davis told him he'd be retiring soon. Soon became a year and then Davis accepted a mere $2,000 and a handshake.
"He took a hand full of straight razors and left everything else," Holben said. Holben also owns and operates a barbershop in Wenatchee at 109 South Mission next to the museum and across from the YMCA. He barbers there on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only.
At that shop he also rents three chairs out to other barbers who come and go as they please. They pay him $130 a month in rent as "chair rental" fees.
In his shop here, he is a one man army every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but has a substitute barber coming in every Tuesday and Wednesday.
Holben said Cashmere is a very "Mayberry-ish town" alluding to the old Mayberry RFD television show, aka The Andy Griffith Show, of the  early 1960s. Holben meant that as a major compliment. He still gets many repeat customers from when Davis ran the shop and is eager to get as many as possible so he can hire the two-day substitute barber full time.
Holben, 49, started cutting hair since he was 11-years-old. He was his own first customer. "I started cutting other people's hair and my aunt helped me go to Glen Dow Academy in Spokane for two years," he said.
Before he was licensed (1990) he was doing simple cuts like the now defunct "mullet" style made famous by Billy Ray Cyrus (Achy Breaky Heart). He also spent two years in the Navy aboard the USS Saipan, a ship known as an amphibious assault ship, which is used in the so-called "Gator Navy." That term is meant as a general description for amphibious warfare ships, the kind that launch Marines against beaches, hence the term "gator." For the rest of the story go to the E-Edition.