I have 4 beautiful hats made by Abbie;,3 beaver felt, 1 straw. I love them. I've frequented this shop since 1980 and when the original owner departed, I was very happy that Abbie and her two friends purchased it and apprenticed with the original owner until they achieved a very busy and successful trade. I see the 1 star reviews and mourn the apparent failure of the shop. It is very difficult to succeed with this sort of arcane specialty particularly when cheap, poorly made wool felt hats are so plentiful and appealing to an undiscerning public. Thank you Abbie! I celebrated your success and mourn the end of the shop's legacy. read more

Paul's Hat Works - Abbie Dwelle - Hats Near Me - San Francisco, California

I met Abbie May 2024. I ordered a custom hat and put down an $850 deposit. Then I spent 14 months (yes over a year) trying to reach her through email, phone, in person at the shop (tried booking an appt too). I could never get a response. I did re dive one email response that was meant for someone else. Luckily I paid with an American Express and they reversed my charge. I presume Abbie still has the $850. Criminals. read more

Business is by appointment only. You need to schedule an appointment 1 week in advance via their website which is "expired". I went to the shop this am. That is what the sign on the door said. read more

Avoid see other negative feedback. Storefront is dirty & barren has the appearance of being condemned all the windows were papered up. To do business with Paul's that you make $120 payment to get an appointment with their artist which I did. I appeared for the appointment an again the storefront was dark and dirty I could faintly hear an old dog barking in the background. Keep in mind the majority of the feedback on Paul's hat works website as well as this website 10+ years old today's date is (February 17, 2025) My understanding is the original owner sold this business 10+ years ago. Reading other feedback it would appear that this is not a functioning business or just people promising more than they can deliver. My experience in was positive with cable car clothiers (Jonathan). Outstanding customer service, incredible selection, and fair and reasonable pricing. read more

Paul's Hat Works - Hats Near Me - San Francisco, California

Business seems closed. I left a message on the phone number without any response. I sawI in comments where others left similar messages

Posted February 2025: This store may have gone out of business. I dropped my off to be hat serviced back in August 2024 and have been unable to reach the owner Annie via email, phone and snail mail for the past 6 months. I have now given up all hope on getting my hat back. read more

Warning: This store's business practices are not in line with reasonable expectations. I dropped off 3 hats off to be customized in mid-March with an ETA of early May. After attempting to contact the store multiple times after early May, they eventually replied on June 4th with this message: "Your hats are not quite ready yet. I'm hoping for next week." I asked if they would be open to updating me in a week since I had prepaid over $500 and wanted to make sure I had open communications. They replied that they would provide an update in a week. I reached out weekly thereafter seeking an update & did not receive a response. This went on for over 7 weeks. I eventually asking for my hats back regardless of whether they had been customized due to my concern over their lack of communication. Their response to me was not until July 17 & the explanation for their silence was that "we failed to check this email inbox." The hats fit but the worry over working with a business that takes 4 months to complete a job they stated would be done in 6 weeks, along with a complete failure to communicate would give me pause in doing business with them in the future. There was no apology offered & there was no discount offered. Now that I read through other reviews, I can see that this issue is not unique to my experience but a continuing problem. read more

Great old school men's hatter. Stopped in recently to check it out after a walk in the neighborhood that yielded this cool little haberdashery. This shop is a step back in time, where you select your material, crown, brim and crease each made by hand one at a time no two are exactly a like. As well, they can restore, re-block and reshape old vintage hats. The vintage interior looks as if it hasn't changed in a millennium. Cool, and a little dusty with a wall of vintage hats restored available for purchase. There are a nice selection of pre-made quality handmade hats available as well. The young woman working at the millinery bench was pleasant and friendly, and allowed me to look at my leisure answering my questions when needed. Very no pressure and laidback. It made purchasing my newest brim an easy thoroughly enjoyable experience. 4.5 Stars - rounded up for a great relaxing transaction 00495 read more

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Had an appointment at 10 today. No one showed up. I drove 20 miles in the rain. Tried many times to confirm the appointment via voicemail and email. I was a customer over 20 years ago. The place has changed. It feels arrogant to me. read more

Decided to venture to this historic spot today as I was thinking about getting a hat. Loved the time I spent looking and getting fitted for the hat and ribbon. I am forgetting the gals name and her sweet daughter. But it was a wonderful experience and can't wait to get my hat next week. More of this! read more

what a surprise to arrive at Paul's Hat Works only to find that entrance is by appointmet only ! We didn't see that , as a warning , on the site or on YELP . Get it together , please . read more

They are only open 10am - 3pm, Wednesday thru Friday. I called during those hours and they do not answer the phone. So I went all the way out there at considerable expense just to find out that they don't have what I was looking for. The two people who were sitting there doing nothing when I walked into the store could have answered the phone and saved me a lot of time. read more

Visited Pauls Hat Shop because my friend from KY knows the owner of the branch out there. He told her he'd stop by and give them her well wishes. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and found beautiful displays of old hat boxes, and walls of custom made hats. *Swoon* This place was simply stunning. The fact that the hats are custom, that they do original work, is proof that this is an art that is still in swing. Olivia was super helpful in telling us about places to visit and things to do, even giving us a heads up on her art show that was happening that night. I will certainly make this a stop later on in my trip, and look at the price of a new chapeaux. read more

This is an update to the review I posted in june 2020. It is April 2021 and the owner of the shop has not contacted nor made an attempt to return the money we paid for hats she never made that is inconceivable!!! On 2019 we ordered hats that were supposed to be done by march 2020. It is april 2021 and yet nothing not even an email nor the full amount of cash returned! AVOID this place like the plague please. Save yourself the trouble and money and go to other local venues! i'd give it MINUS 5 stars if i could! read more

I bought a beautiful fedora from Paul's Hat Works some years ago and I wear it a lot, and in all different weather conditions. The quality and personal service are exceptional. I recommend the beaver felt if you live in San Francisco or in a coastal community. The hats are customized to fit your needs and personality. read more

Paul's Hat Works - Hats Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am glad to announce that Paul's Hat works has changed ownership (I think Michael retired) and is now back open for business! Paul's Hat Works hearkens back to the mid 1900s, a simpler time in the days before the slathering on of SPF50 was the norm and hats provided a man (or a lady) not only sun protection, but also a sense of style. This was a time when class and civility reigned and a man regularly tipped his hat to a lady out of respect. While I won't go into the entire story here, the expert weavers (apparently less than 200 still remaining) in Ecuador who manufacture the true works of art (with 500-1000 hand weaves per square inch) which comprise the finest Panama Hats, are a dying breed and most of these experts are already monopolized by the large hat conglomerates. The world's finest of these hats take 3-6 months to make and can easily be worth $25,000 or more. So I knew my mission of finding one of these exquisitely made Monticristis without seriously crippling my bank account would be no easy task. The newest purveyors of old school haberdashery are four women in the Outer Richmond. In the past decade or two, Paul's Hat Works (PHW) had become rundown and was in serious need of a re-freshening. In the recent transfer of ownership, PHW has been pleasantly rejuvenated without losing its old-world charm. Warm soothing retro music emanates from a classic turntable and the décor still feels mid 20th century. I was helped by Olivia, a young woman who's style and grace easily transcended the bridge between past and present. Currently, the primary stock selection at PHW is Panama hats of varying styles, but Olivia mentioned that some felt hats would also be arriving soon. As everyone's head is a different shape, care is taken to provide the best fitting. I was custom fitted with a 150 year old mechanical skull measuring device (which looked to me a lot like a brain scan device directly out of a 1930s science fiction movie) to obtain the exact shape of my head. The device imprinted a pattern on a card that was later used to conform my new hat to the exact shape of my head. The whole process was very quick, yet still had that 'bespoke' feeling that I was being custom fit for a suit. I am now the proud owner of a beautiful Monticristi Panama and I give the very first tip of my new chapeau to the four ladies who have continued the San Francisco legacy of class and style that is Paul's Hat Works. read more

I own many hats. Most of them are Borsalinos. My favorite hat is a Borsalino Beaver Fur Felt hat, a fedora. I paid $550 for it in 2000 (or so, can't remember when I got it). Because it is my favorite hat, I wear it way too much. That is to say, I should alternate it with my other hats, but this Borsalino is the one that ends up on my head most of the time. So, by the Fall of 2009, it was showing signs of wear. The peak was beginning to wear through. The silk liner was just hanging-on by threads, and the hat had never been cleaned and blocked. It was rather dirty. So, I took it here, only to learn that four young women now own the shop, Kirsten, Olivia, Abbie and Wendy. I dealt with Kirsten. She is polite, and businesslike. She did the work on the hat, and called me with a question during the process. For $150 she repaired the fraying peak (reinforcing it from within), cleaned and re-installed the slik liner, and cleaned and blocked the felt. It looks great! I am very pleased. I confess that I was quite concerned when I learned these ladies had not been in "the hat business" for all that long. However, based upon my experience, they know what they are doing. Olivia was behind the counter when I picked up my hat. She too is quite pleasant. This is a unique business. The women running it are skilled. We San Franciscans would do well to support a business like this. And, oh, for we cat lovers, there is a kitty cat who demands attention when you come in. UPDATE (01/02/10): This "re-do" of my hat is holding-up nicely. I had to fabricate a "mold" (hard to explain), in order to flatten-out the brim a little - just to get it back to a "neutral shape," but it is great. I continue to be quite pleased. I walked by the store the other day, and these women had a very appealing, somewhat whimsical, window display installed. These gals are creative! read more

I go up to the VA Fort Miley and many Vets love the Hats made by PAUL's and repair too. They stitched up a retired Borsalino hat, and I am hoping to get another Borsalino in mint condition stretched one size larger~SOON! read more

These ladies are great! They took two old hats from a lost loved one and removed the mold that had collected due to poor storage on one of them and restored to great condition. The second hat, and old cowboy hat, they resized and reshaped into a beautiful fedora. Both hats had great sentimental value and I'm glad I entrusted them to these four pairs of skilled hands. read more

I too am a longtime hat wearer and have bought hats in NYC, New Orleans, Chicago and London. In San Francisco for a few days, I dropped in ( found on internet ) knowing nothing of the shop prior. I was warmly greeted by a pleasant young woman in maybe a 40's dress and a stylish hat. Like stepping back 70 years! We chatted the history of the shop, the new ownership by the four primary partners - all young women passionate about hats - and what they were making in the shop. We discussed what I was thinking about and considered a custom make (pork pie) when I spied a hat way up the wall... Walked out with a natural beaver felt "Fillmore" a beautiful hat in fedora medium brim that I wear almost daily. Men and stylish women take heed. A QUALITY hat is not cheap, but can last longer than you and become a part of you! The "Pauls" have taken up the mantel of hand working TOP quality hats and blocking, cleaning etc... A service now found in only a handful of places around the world. They learned FAST and WELL how to ply this detailed trade using tools and equipment some of which are at LEAST thrice their ages. If you are in San Francisco or now Louisville KY, make a point to visit their shops. You'll have an interesting experience, and perhaps walk out with or order a stylish, functional, beautiful piece of history that is coming back into style - and SHOULD stay in style in my opinion! read more

In my mind, this place is priceless. The service and kindness that they provide are truly amazing, and something that is rarely seen these days. I know it is cool to be an "old school" shop and do things the "right way". However, what people don't realize is that while this is cool, it takes an immense amount of determination and resolve that few people have. If I do nothing else it will be to sing the praises of Paul's Hat Works for as long as I can, and wear my hat equally as proudly. Oh, and I've been to every haberdashery in town, and many many elsewhere; and the accusations on Yelp that these ladies can't possibly be "Master" hatters after just "Picking up the shop" are simply not true. Kirsten's handiwork will put you to shame any day. read more

I'm more concerned about skin cancer and UV protection , and buying a hat that fits well that I'd be encouraged to use it and not loose it. Strolling the windy hills of pacific heights, to my surprise, my panama fedora hat did not budge. Though, their beaver hats are the best, made at the shop, water/fog resistance, lush and pliable, perfect for San Francisco ( I have a bowler on cue), but Panama it will have to be for hot weather in NYC. The girls that own the shop allowed me to try on hat after hat until I was sure, reblocked the hat and fitted me perfectly with an understated flair- I guess their back-to-the-future apparatus really does work and they do have a good eye for fashion. I hope I don't get skin cancer and I hope my unfortunate mom will learn by example. I rate an off the shelf high end Panama Stetson a 6 and their's an absolute 10. read more

I've been a hat man my entire life, buying hats in NYC, Tennessee, Paris, Ecuador, and beyond. All it takes is a good hat to make me feel like I look good today, which influences everything I do from then on! When I first found the girls of Paul's Hat Works, I thought, "Great.. more girls making silly feathery hats, just what SF needs!" But then I saw what they had on display and was STUNNED! Straw Top hats and pork pies?!! Beaver fur fedoras?! Hats I could wear!! THIS is exciting! Then I heard their story and became even MORE fascinated with them! The store has SO much history, and the girls have taken on a near lost methodology of hat making. The quality of my hat first hat from them far surpassed anything I had previously owned. They quickly became my dedicated hatters, in charge of any hat I desire, or refurbishing any hat I feel they could make better. The shop is beautiful, filled to the brim with artifacts of hat making history, and its always got some fun music spinning on the ol' turntable, and the girls of Paul's Hat Works are keepin' the dream alive, and definitely bringing the hat back. Also, I brought my sister there and she bought TWO fedoras from them on the spot. Our family officially supports PHW. read more

Heyyy, I like this store. My favorite stores where I still shopping for hats are Export Portal, Asos or Zara, but recently I have discovered Paul's Hat works. I bought one for my father, and this was the perfect gift for him. I really appreciate the help of the seller and he was very nice with me. read more

Amazing craftsmanship and attention to details. My beaver felt fedora is impeccable and I can hardly wait to order another hat. If you're lucky enough to get an order in, you'll be impressed as well. Highly recommended. read more

Go to Paul's. Get yourself a one of a kind handmade hat from the ONLY men's hat shop in the bay area owned and operated by four extraordinary, extremely talented women. These hats are gorgeous! Every inch of these beauties is steamed, stretched, and stitched by hand with traditions and secrets that have been passed down to through three generations of hatters. They will be re-opening at the end of August. Looking forward to it! read more

Paul's Hats is really suffering since the other gals left. You can leave a message at the store or on the phone but don't count on getting a call back. The last member of the group has no social graces or sense of customer service. read more

If I could give these idiots negative 5 stars I would.. This idiot chick told me they could reshape my crown and I drove all the way here from the eastbay and now she states we are not currently working on that style.. This is extremely annoying due to when I spoke to her on the phone earlier that morning she said YES WE CAN.. Ugh such an utter waste of time and gas! read more

So I am a long time hat guy. I have bought hats in London, NY SF and Chicago. I am really picky and try only to buy from the best quality purveyors. I am not bragging, just giving color. I wear a fedora or a straw to work daily in the financial district of SF. Anyway, about 20 years ago I discovered Michael Harris of Pauls Hat Works. He was a quirky but talented, committed hat man. And he knew Panamas. I own three high quality Panamas that he made for me and i love them. But this isn't abut Michael, it's about what the 4 ladies who bought Pauls do. they have rejuvenated a business that was in danger of going away, and thank goodness for that. Far too many quality things in life have been lost due to neglect, or boredom, or whatever. But these 4 have given life to PHW. i have visited the store 4 or five times since they bought it, to shop, talk about upkeep on the straws (which they need), etc. Two weeks ago I brought in a beloved old camel Churchill fedora that belonged to my stepdad. It was about 40 years old and I loved it, but it was beat up. The ladies clean and block hats-something only done by a couple of places in the country. And they learned how to do it. We needed to rejuvenate that hat, put on a new band, so we did. All I can say is, WOW. While they did something more modern than i had anticipated, it looks FANTASTIC. They lowered the crown and put pretty close to a diamond shape top on it. It's a narrow brim lid so the low crown looks fantastic. So instead of sometimes mr fuddy-duddy, now I am COOL. So great. Thanks, Wendy and all of you! read more

Paul's Hat Works is still making superb hats thanks to Abbie Dwelle, the owner and hatter. Whenever I wear my Western-style hat, I get compliments because it's so luxurious. If you want the best hat in S.F.--either ready-made or custom-made--you must make an appointment with Abbie. Please visit her delightful and informative Website: http://www.hatworksbypaul.com/ read more

I took in my $260 (retail) Black Borsalino English Newsboy cap to have it cleaned and as nice as the store keeper was, she ruined a perfectly good hat. I had brought it with me for a cleaning along with a Stetson panama that had some staining. I was told the the Borsalino was in great condition so it was to my surprise that it was ruined. I feel that Paul's could have offered me a discount on a custom fitted or some compensation for an obvious mistake by the hat maker. This was months ago but I did not want anyone else to find out after the fact that Paul's is not a place to get this type of hat cleaned. It was shrunk and now shaped like a German storm trooper helmet. Very sad to have such a nice hat that fit so well become garbage. read more

Here's a update on the store, in the form of a wonderful article written by SF historian Carl Nolte which appeared in the SF Chronicle 9/13/09: http://tinyurl.com/ku6ehx read more

The women of Paul's Hat Shop Rock! I have in trusted my very fine hats to their care and have never been disappointed. They possess a nice selection of hats for retail. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this business, and the very cool owners! Tim and Marla Nolan read more

I have been a long time customer at Paul's and love their service with a smile. Last year they made a custom napoleon hat for a costume that has been the hit at several parties. The new owners have also helped me out with many adjustments of hats that I already owned, doing expert blocking and changes of linings and bands always to perfection! I love their hat creations and the art they bring to this old art of hat making. The store is really nice and always puts a smile on my face to be in there. read more

This is the best! I first bought a hat there years ago, & still wear it along with more recent purchases.

I have been hauling a fedora across the country with me since purchasing it for a six-pack of beer from (what was called back then) a hobo. At that point it was in rough shape. And it didn't improve much in the 40+ ensuing years with stops in Buffalo, Chicago, Florida, Seattle, Memphis and, finally, the Bay Area. Deciding it was time to show it a little love (and make it wearable in public) I checked out Yelp review's and found Paul's. Did some Googling and decided these were the folks who could do the job. I was right. The work is not cheap, but neither are the results. There were two small holes - barely visible - that were beyond repair, but I believe they merely add to intrigue of a fedora from another age. My next stop may be to purchase one of their gorgeous custom-made hats! read more

Helped me design what I wanted. Took their time. Did it right. Good shop. Good crew. Silverbelly brim up fedora.

a tip of the hat.... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/28/MN9L15008A.DTL I have been shopping in the bay area for hats..... for.. over... 25 ... years. And I still hadn't heard of this 90 year old shop. Thank you thank you thank you!!! going out of biz... so might as well make a purchase. The steamers and tools he uses are badass. read more

They make nice fur felt hats,even though they are pricey. I took my Monticristi panama there to have the crown lowered ,it had a slight tear in it when they received it ,and when I got it back it had a giant rip in it and gobs of glue on it. Made the hat virtually unwearable. They were just not careful enough with a valuable ($500) hat. read more

its so nice to see non factory made s***. these guys (actually AWESOME gals!) are the real deal!!!!!