New barber shop gives nod to Aledo history

Jacob Razo was inspired by his grandfather, a retired Fort Worth barber, when remodeling and opening Aledo Barbershop on Front Street in downtown …

It is nice when a classic building gets restored. However, it is wonderful when a local classic and prominent building is restored to its original purpose.

Although tiny, the rock building at 105 Front Street in Aledo is hyper-visible. It faces Front Street beside the railroad tracks just off the main drag of FM 1187, right behind the Shell station convenience store.

Over recent decades it has been a workshop, a storage building, and beauty shop — but each only briefly. For the most part of modern times it has been vacant, primarily because it was tiny and in need of upgrades.

Jacob Razo had his sights on the vacant building to open a barbershop even before he saw a map of Aledo dated 1930 with the notation “Burton Coder Barber Shop” and an arrow pointing to the location. Burton, a real estate businessman and occasional barber, had a home next to his shop, which was removed years ago.

It took a year of remodeling an original downtown Aledo building for Jacob Razo to open a barbershop with a nod to the area's history.

“It was like it was meant to be,” Razo said standing in front of the shop. “It has been a year in the making, but here we are.”

The awning has been improved and a handicap ramp and parking installed, but the big surprise waits inside. Patrons step back in time as they enter a pristine old-school barbershop with classic barber chairs and black and white hexagonal tile sporting “Aledo Barbershop” across the floor.

Razo was inspired by his grandfather, Joe Guerrero, a retired barber in Fort Worth. He also credits his brother, Jonathan Razo, for encouragement to start the business. However, his business partner and “the brains behind the business,” he says, is his wife, Annie. Outside the barber business, the couple is kept busy with Roman, Camila, and Maddison, who attend Coder Elementary School.

One of Aledo’s famous long-time residents, Terry Hyles, attests to the historical significance of the newly opened shop.

“One of my earliest memories was being dropped off near that barbershop by the railroad tracks back in fifth grade when I rode in on the bus. I had to high-tail it from there to get to school on time,” the longtime rancher and Aledo supporter recalled. “It was always a barber shop back then. If Coder wasn’t at the shop folks could go next door and get him.”

Many people had their first glance inside the new shop during Chrismas Tyme in Aledo when Razo greeted the passing crowd with refreshments and stories of the building's history. He explained the shop is open by appointment now and will soon be staffed regular hours to accept drop-in customers for cuts both common and modern as well as beard grooming.

For more information, visit aledobarbershoptx.com.