GALLIPOLIS — The same twist of fate that forced another local business to find a new location has prompted longtime Gallipolis barber Harold Montgomery to move his shop.

For the past 30 years, area residents in need of a haircut visited Montgomery’s Barber Shop at 244 Second Avenue. That was until a few weeks ago, when Tom Morgan, owner of Lorobi’s Pizza in downtown Gallipolis and the adjacent buildings at 242 and 244 Second Avenue, was left with no other choice than to have the structure at 242 Second demolished.

That building housed Sheer Pleasure Salon, operated by Sandi Darnbrough, who is now sharing space with Pat O’Dell, owner of Pat’s Beauty Salon at 54 State Street in Gallipolis.

Morgan said an inspection of the building at 242 Second found structural problems that could not be resolved and he was advised by several parties to have the structure demolished.

Following the demise of 242 Second, Morgan turned his attention to 244 Second. Montgomery said his barber shop was closed for a week and he planned to re-open it at 244 Second, but other structural issues were discovered related to the common wall shared with the former building at 242.

A restoration project was scheduled to begin there this week, but, according to Montgomery, it has been delayed due to the inclement weather.

Montgomery said he then entered into a lease agreement with another local business owner, Nancy Tawney, and set up shop at 252 Second Avenue, which previously housed Joe Mama’s Coffee House.

Coincidentally, that is the same address where he maintained his business for 13 years prior to moving to 244 Second.

“We were fortunate to relocate just three doors up the street,” Montgomery said.

He said his customers have had no problems finding their way back to his barber chairs.

“We’ve been covered up,” he said. “I’m very thankful for the customers being able to find us.”

Montgomery said he and fellow master barbers David Beaver and Erick Johnson have a combined 99 years of experience between them. Beaver has worked with Montgomery for 22 years, while Johnson has worked with him for the past seven years.

Montgomery’s Barber Shop is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The telephone number is 446-0073.