FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Fort Fairfield has recently seen a new business open on Main Street, in the former location of a longtime barbershop.
Family Haircuts By Lisa, owned and operated by Fort Fairfield resident Lisa Kirouac, has been open since February. Kirouac, who has 25 years of experience as a barber and hairdresser, chose to keep the original “Jack’s” sign on her storefront as a tribute to the barbershop, which closed three years ago.
After owning Alphie’s Barbershop in Caribou for 15 years, Kirouac sold the business two years ago to deal with a medical diagnosis and has since recovered from a lengthy illness. She now offers walk-in appointments for men’s, women’s and children’s haircuts at her 256 Main Street location 5 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Family Haircuts by Lisa, a new business in Fort Fairfield owned by Lisa Kirouac, offers haircuts for both children and adults. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star-Herald)
Kirouac hopes to fulfill an important need in the community.
“Fort Fairfield is very much a working town or somewhere people drive through on their way to work. A lot of people, like farmers and border patrol agents, don’t have much time in the day to make a hair appointment,” Kirouac said. “Here, they can stop in and leave within 10 or 15 minutes.”
Kirouac, who is originally from Grand Falls, New Brunswick, said that she has steadily been gaining repeat customers and has felt immense support from community members. In the future, she would like to hire other employees and become a long-term presence in Fort Fairfield’s business world.
For now, she is happy to have revamped the old barbershop into a place that will once again serve the town.
“Everyone has been so friendly and supportive,” Kirouac said. “In many ways, it feels like coming home again.”
