After 28 years, The Gentleman bids farewell to Purdy

Jim Lince started work as a barber because he wanted to have something to fall back on.

“I’ve been falling back on it for 51 years,” Lince said with a smile.

On Wednesday (Sept. 30), he’ll retire from a long career as a barber, 28 years of which he spent in the Purdy Shopping Center as “Gentleman Jim.”

If there’s one thing the 73-year-old Lince will miss, it’s the people.

“I never go home broke because I learn something new from a client every day, and that’s what I’ll miss,” he said. “I learn more from my clients than they ever learn from me.”

He started off in Bellevue in 1965 and from there went on to own three different shops, open a beauty college and teach other barbers.

“I’ve been fortunate to do it all,” he said.

His shop in Purdy has given him lasting relationships. The shop doesn’t take appointments on Saturdays, but it’s still full of people. Lince has people come in, laugh and just hang out, he said.

“It’s just ‘fun time’ on Saturdays,” Lince said.

His personal connection with clients keep them coming back. Wynn Smith has been going to Lince for 11 years.

“We’ve had a lot of fun,” Smith said. “(His clients have) great senses of humor; he’s got a great clientele.”

Lince wanted to make sure the Purdy shop kept on going, so soon the shop will be taken over by Paul Hubbard, who previously worked at Harbor Barber. Lince is confident his shop will be in good hands.

“He’ll do really well here,” Lince said.

Although he’s handing the shop off to someone new, don’t expect Lince to pack up his clippers just yet. He plans to volunteer cutting hair, he’s just letting go of the daily grind. It’s getting hard to work long days, but he still loves the work.

“I’ve got the best career in the world because I can have fun all day,” he said.

This story was originally published September 30, 2015 at 10:06 AM with the headline "After 28 years, The Gentleman bids farewell to Purdy."