Longtime Jamestown Barber Retires, Apprentice Will Keep Shop Open

Andy Heller announced he will retire at the end of November after offering traditional barber services to Jamestown men for more than three decades. Heller opened the shop in May 1996 when he bought the business from Ron Rempfer, and since then he has run an old fashioned walk in only shop charging a single price for haircuts. Family commitments and the recent death of his father prompted Heller to plan a move to Fargo, and while he looks forward to retirement he said he will miss the daily routine and the customers.

The business will remain local. Moler Barber College student Cory Foth will take over the shop, and Cory’s father, Larry Foth, will operate the shop until Cory completes his licensure. That arrangement is designed to maintain continuity of service and preserve an established customer base, avoiding the temporary closures or service disruptions that can follow small business exits. Heller also said he might work in barbering on a less responsible basis after moving, which could provide occasional continuity for regular patrons.

For Stutsman County residents the change is both practical and symbolic. The shop has served multiple generations, offering a predictable price point and a walk in only model that fits quick schedules. Local barbershops often act as small economic anchors, generating foot traffic for nearby retailers and contributing to downtown vibrancy. The planned transition keeps those economic linkages intact and preserves employment, albeit at a very small scale.

The succession also reflects broader trends affecting rural main street businesses. Longtime proprietors face retirement decisions as personal circumstances change, and younger entrants typically come through formal training programs and apprenticeship on the job. In this case a local family connection and enrollment at a Fargo barber college supply the workforce pipeline needed to sustain the operation. That pattern reduces the risk of business attrition that can hollow out small town commercial districts.

Policy considerations include the role of licensing and training in workforce mobility and the importance of local programs to support business succession planning. Keeping a shop open under new ownership avoids the loss of a neighborhood service and helps maintain steady customer spending within Jamestown. For regular customers the most immediate impact will be continuity in location and service model, while the community more broadly benefits from retained economic activity and preserved social space.

As Heller moves toward retirement at the end of the month, Jamestown residents will see a familiar storefront continue under new management. The transfer underscores how family networks and trade education can combine to sustain small businesses in rural economies.