The Man's Hat Shop - not just for men!

[Edith Grove]

I had a memorable visit to Toronto once. The b&b where I stayed was in a neighborhood that still had a lot of old world-style charm. There was a bread shop just for bread. A cheese shop just for cheese. The proprietors knew their stuff and provided customer service in a way that a large conglomerate store never could. That's the feeling I get stepping into the Man's Hat Shop on Central downtown.

A few months ago I said, "Enough with the Master Hatters of Texas and one-size-fits-most cheap felt cowgirl hats. I'm getting a real hat!" Into the half door and past the wide front windows I ventured for the first time. I was a woman among the hollow stacks of Stetsons in the Man's Hat Shop. The fellow there welcomed me and sized up my head immediately and accurately: "You're a long oval."

I was looking for a felt hat with a gambler crown and was soon trying on the Stetson Gun Club Royal Flush. Perfect. But the best part of the Man's Hat Shop experience is the fitting. You can sneak a peek as they work away in the middle distance behind the counter, steaming and fitting your hat. It can take several incremental stages until the right fit is achieved.

The shop itself is a comfortable throwback with stacks of straw western hats reaching nearly the height of library shelves. Glass cases hold some of the felts and specialty items. The stock is all high quality ranging from Stetson to Resistol to French berets to Civil War kepis. They can make any hat you desire from their ample stock of hat blanks. Give it a Wild Bill brim, add a rakish angle to a Fedora, make those edges stand up like Junior Brown - it's all possible.

I recently returned to purchase the same Stetson model in straw for warmer weather. Same spot on customer service and fitting. I'm glad to find these stalwart outposts of specialties and service still in Albuquerque. Now if we could get a cheese shop, I'd be in heaven.

The Mans Hat Shop
511 Central Avenue NW
247-9605

[the boy]

Downtown grocery is pretty close to a decent cheese shop, from what I remember.

[Two Armed Man]

The cheese shop you're looking for is downtown as well. Check out the Downtown Gourmet at 900 Central across from Robinson Park. As Homer says
mmm... cheese...

[Adelita]

I LOVE The Man's Hat Shop! Gotten many a Stetson there.

[The Grand Panjandrum]

That's for reminding me I need to go pick up the hat they cleaned and blocked for me. (10X Beaver Resistol) Nice hat BTW!

[Phil_0]

40+ years and counting...I love the Man's Hat Shop. It was the only place in town my grandfather could find hats that fit.

[chantal]

Was this pre or post Man's Hat Shop?

[Edith Grove]

That's pre! That's my Master Hatters hat that is now adorning the head of whatever person bought it at Thrift Town. I loooove my Stetsons. Everybody should wear hats more often...

[the boy]

Decidedly not a man's hat, but certainly in the mood of everyone wearing hats more often. (Image found here, which is just plain awesome

[chantal]

Etsy sells some lovely cloche hats for women.

[jonnyblujeans]

I swung by downtown gourmet today and it looked like it was gone...any news?