Earl’s Barber Shop, a fixture on Oregon Avenue for 54 years, is moving because its owner said the rent has become too high.

It’s another example of the changing nature of downtown Bend, as business owners are knocking out walls, adding office space and putting up new awnings in efforts to keep the area a dynamic area for commercial growth.

The barber shop is moving to Greenwood Avenue near Fifth Street on Thursday.

The owner of Earl’s, Bob Applegate, 50, purchased the business after the original owner, Earl Lang, died in 1993.

The shop occupies 300 square feet in a 15,000-square-foot building which formerly housed Cascade Office Supply, 1001 Wall St. near Oregon Avenue.

Cascade Office Supply moved to the Old Mill District in May where it changed to a warehouse and office space from the retail service it had provided downtown, said the owner, Jim Cheney.

Bruce Eriksen, who owns the building with his father Gard, said Applegate was subletting the space on a monthly lease from Lang’s wife, Ethyl. Ethyl Lang paid Eriksen Properties $150 per month, which is 50 cents per square foot, Eriksen said.

Eriksen said he wanted to transition Applegate to a long-term lease, which would have required a higher price, but he said a final price for the space has not yet been determined. ”He (Applegate) had a really good deal,” Eriksen said. ”We’re disappointed that he’s leaving but I guess he’s moving on.”

Applegate is moving to a larger, 550 square-foot facility on Greenwood, between Pilot Butte and Highway 97, which he said costs 90 cents per square foot. He said he plans to expand his business to add a masseuse.

An eight-year customer, George Martin, said he prefers the downtown location but will continue his tradition getting hair cuts at Earl’s Barber Shop no matter where it sits.

”It’s better to be close to downtown because you can walk to all the shops,” Martin said. ”But I can get a decent haircut there.”

The building still houses several other tenants, which Eriksen said are not planning to move out of the building. He said rent is not increasing for tenants with long-term leases.

The existing tenants include Bend Alterations, a clothing alterations shop; Second Glance, a clothing store; Dick Nelson Engineering; two upstairs apartments and The Eisman Agency, a Farmer’s Insurance group, Eriksen said.

Eriksen said he is renovating the building to prepare it to house three new tenants in October. He said the tenants have not yet been determined.

Renovations will include replacing the existing wood and greystone rock walls with its original red brick, uncovering clerestory windows, adding colored awnings and adding new entries and second floor offices.