New barber moves back to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE ‹ Some of the people who stop in at Troy's Barber Shop are there for the coffee, and not necessarily a haircut.

Even though the new business, located at 215 E. Broadway Ave., only opened April 3, owner Troy Ragan says he already has some people who pop in when his business opens at 8 a.m. for a cup of coffee and to visit.

The people are one of self-described people person Ragan's favorite things about his new job, a career long in the making.

He gave his first haircut while in the Marine Corps, and there are several barbers in his family, he said. Ragan originally intended to go right into the business 20 years ago, but said it's hard to go to school and support a family at the same time.

A Moses Lake resident for most of his life, Ragan worked as manager for several years at an Othello lodge before deciding the time was right to pursue his dream. He and his family are in the process of moving back to Moses Lake from Othello. With his wife of 19 years, Debbie, Ragan has three children, a 19-year-old daughter and sons aged 17 and 15.

Another barber will join Ragan at the beginning of May in the location. While there are other barbers in business in the area, he feels there's room for more.

"Moses Lake's growing so fast, I thought one more barber shop would be a nice addition," he said.

One of the offerings in Ragan's new barber shop is a throwback to the barbershops of old. He offers straight razor shaves complete with hot towel.

"I just wanted to offer something they offered in the old-style barbershops, the true men's (barbershops) where everyone went to hang out and have a cup of coffee," he said. "It's part of the training, you have to learn how to do it, so I decided I'd go ahead and add it. I don't do it much, but I have just in my first few weeks, I've already done three or four."

Since opening, Ragan said his business has been well-received.

"I think it's kind of exceeded my expectations at first, because any time you open a new business, you kind of have got to prepare yourself for the worst," he said, noting he's had many friends stop by to offer him congratulations, some of whom he hadn't seen in years. "It's been neat, it really has. It just kind of feels like I'm coming home."