Mr. James has retired

After 46 years as proprietor of Mr. James Hairstyling, James Newcomer is retiring. Such a slacker! A party was held on March 31 to celebrate the event.

This salon at the southwest corner of the Milltowner Shopping Center has seen a lot of changes in the community but has kept its character and many of its original customers and their children and grandchildren.

Newcomer graduated from barber college in 1955 and went to work for a chain of shops called MarDon. One of his customers mentioned that she and her husband were planning to build a new shopping center, and thought that he should open his own salon there. Several years later, that is what happened, and Mr. James became one of the first businesses in Odus and Lillian Bales' center, which also housed the original grocery store.

He says that one of the things he's grateful for is the way that his customers have shared their lives with him "through success and bad times, and kids growing up and moving away. I gave kids their first haircut, and eventually they brought in their kids," he recalls.

He and June, who have been married for 56 years, live in the Aloha area. Once he retires, he's planning to,"dust off my easel" to do more painting, work in the garden, and probably find a few more outlets for his creativity.

Daughter Zo-Ann, who started working in the shop at age 16, has been a stylist since 1977. She will be working nearby in the Silhouette Salon in the triangle center Thursday through Saturday. Customers can contact her at 503-310-5668. She wants people to know how much the Newcomers appreciate the kindness of the Bales family over the years, and all the families that have been part of their success.

Sara Hogan, who's been working in the shop for several years, and her husband Mike, will be taking over at Mr. James.

NOTE: Mr. James was the subject of our first "Featured Business" article in March 2003."

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