Owner Dean Poore stands in front of the newly opened Ole Firehouse Barber Shop located at the old fire station on Alpine Boulevard.

     ALPINE — If you’ve driven down Alpine Boulevard lately you no doubt have noticed some changes. The old Alpine Fire Protection District fire station, that was donated to the Alpine Community Center, has been rented.
     Two businesses, one new and one already established, have opened for business and are eager to welcome the residents of Alpine through their doors. Both the Ole Firehouse Barber Shop and Village Carpet Flooring America will serve Alpiners from head to toe.
     Village Carpet Flooring America, which previously was located at 2271 Alpine Blvd., made the move to the old fire station at 1834 Alpine Blvd. The transition happened quite rapidly, with the initial decision to move made in October and the business up and running in its new locale around Christmastime.
     The business is a family-run operation, co owned by George and Pat Wood and their son Randy. George and Pat are getting ready to retire and are transitioning from running the business to now handing ownership over to son Randy. Sister Jolene Julian also works at the business.
     “Village Carpet has been in Alpine around 25 years, and we have owned it 15-16 of those years,” Pat said. “We were looking to make a move and knew the old fire station was available, and there was a need to take over the building.”
     The move was prompted by a desire for more visibility, and closer proximity to town near the community center and Alpine Elementary School. In making the move, the business also increased its square footage from approximately 2,300 square feet at the old location to 2,800 at the new one.
     “We’ve signed a three-year lease, and are subleasing space to the barber shop,” Pat said.
     A new and much-needed business also opened in the southwest portion of the building. The Ole Firehouse Barber Shop is now open for business. Owner Dean Poore has been a barber since 1964. After retiring as a high-seas yacht captain, Dean and his family decided that Alpine could benefit from a family-friendly barbershop.
     “We don’t just do men’s haircuts,” Dean said. “We serve the whole family including men, women, and children, and our prices are very reasonable. I wanted to open a place where people would feel welcome.
     “I’m a big sports fan, and we have a good-sized T.V. so that our customers can watch all the games. The Ole Firehouse Barber Shop is a business where customers will receive full old-fashioned service.”
     After taking over custody of the old fire station, the Alpine Community Center’s board of directors voted to rent the space out to help meet the community center’s obligations.
     “We are very excited to have a tenant. It greatly helps the finances of the community center, which receives no funding from the county. As soon as the “For Rent” sign went up on the old fire station, we had a lot of interest from the outset,” said community center director Sue Roff.
     Village Carpet Flooring America can be reached at 445-4352. The Ole Firehouse Barber Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and after hours by appointment. The phone number is 722-1436.


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