Hollywood Hatters

I can’t speak highly enough about Hollywood Hatters as they have been my haberdasher for as long as I can remember (and that’s saying a lot!). They always have the top notch selection and brands. Service with a smile, adjustments when needed, and a box of feathers if you’re not too keen on the one that comes with your hat, quickly swapped out at the time of purchase!
If you are looking for a top quality product at amore then fair price, you would be foolish to shop anywhere else!

Amazing selection and great help! We needed hats for a Kentucky derby party and this spot was perfect!

I’ve been waiting outside the store since 11:00 when it was supposed to open. It’s now 11:47 and nothing. The neighboring business told me they frequently open 5 – 10 minutes late, so he should be here anytime. 5 minutes is one thing, but this is ridiculous. We even called yesterday to confirm their hours, as like many others, we have a busy weekend and planned out time accordingly. Ridiculous.
Update: While waiting, we located the same exact hat online for cheaper and ordered it. I also read through some other reviews and see the lateness is a frequent thing — this is not a place I’d shop or try to shop again.

Sal, the owner, was awesome today! It was my husband’s birthday and I get him a new hat every year. I looked up his store on Unilocal and the reviews were good, but actually experiencing for myself, it was great! He knows hats and really takes the time to try on and touch up on the spot any hat that needs special attention or fitting. We found two perfect quality hats this year. My husband was so happy!

Absolutely amazing experience. I like hats — but loved my memorable experience. More than just a purchase. Thank you so much for treating me like a VIP.

In the year 2000 right after My daughter was born I was recording a Voice Over at Buzzy’s on Melrose. After my session I walked across the street to a new hat store. I got a new felt Porkpie from Salvatore the owner. I’ve been wearing some version of a Porkpie hat since I was in my 20’s but not as nice as the one I got that day a Hollywood Hatters. Whenever I would record at Buzzy’s I would stop buy and chat with Sal and look at hats he always has an incredible selection and has great advice. 15 years later I walk in today… we talk about the old days, times we saw and chatted with Philip Seymour Hoffman eating next door, how business is these days and what’s changed in the neighborhood and I buy a new hat and Sal spends 20 minutes shaking it into a Porkpie in the decisions of my old beat up hat .
Perhaps I was born in the wrong age but I like this kinda thing… Great service, great selection and someone who remembers you. Anyway… got my first new hat in 8 or so years… thanks Sal

I have been a hat guy for the last 30 years or so and this place is hands down the best i have seen. The owner is friendly without being pushy — knows his inventory — super helpful with alternatives for the budget-​conscious, and obviously in love with millinery; it’s like walking into some alternate dimension where people give a shit about what they do… Highly recommended.

Knowledgeable, friendly, down to Earth, and a truly honest owner if Hollywood Hatters!
This review is during the on-​skirts of summer so straw hats are in season. I am a novice at hats and my style has found itself being transformed from jeans, buttoned-​up long sleeve shirt and baseball hat to nice slacks, black dress shoes, vest and Gatsby cap.
My transition wasn’t complete until I switched out my cap to fedora and after talking to the owner he measured my head, examined my style and recommended the 7 ¼ size Melodrama fedora. Sadly he was out of stock but mentioned the demand of wool fedoras which will be rectified in a few weeks.
As an honest reviewer I have to mention that I went and found that exact fedora at J Valintin Collection downtown LA in between 7^th and 8^th street on Los Angeles Street in the Fashion District. HOWEVER, as I continue to examine myself introvertedly I know that there is a place on Melrose that will at least give me the knowledge I need and during the winter season another fedora or something of the like for years to come.
If you’re in the need to be a classy S.O.B. like myself I recommend this place. I’m an old-​fashioned person at the age of 27 and like my father always told me before he passed was that if someone gives you what you need that is local, tip them to show your kindness. This place and owner deserves business.

Not only does this shop have Beautiful hats to accentuate any look it is also furnished by the expertise and excellent customer service skills of the owner Mr. Sal. America was founded by business owner’s like Sal and I intend shop here again. Thank you from Leslie and Erik.

Still not open at 11:10 and in a pinch for special hat wardrobing… moving on to another hattery down the street

Rude, rude, rude. I was in with my young son on Saturday, and was hustled out of the place. My son was fascinated by a top hat and apparently that’s not allowed. Oh well, I shopped elsewhere that day and won’t be back.

Have you ever been to a place where you stood around and thought, «This feels like a movie»? Being in Los Angeles, I’m sure this place has been on a few shows and movies, but the real thing is, this place has character; character as vibrant and emotional as any actor or actress.
1^st Act
When you walk in, you’re invited to a world of musk and wood. From the inside, you can be anywhere in the U.S., from Miami to New York City. The interior is lined with wood and the showcase window pours in the hot California sunshine. The buzz of the overhead fan hums the air as street atmoshere comes seeping through the front door.
2^nd Act
The place is filled with fedoras and other hats. I never knew Carlos Santana made his own fedoras, although I’m not surprised by it either. Paperboy caps line one section of the wall, and warped mirrors help reflect the image of your newly accessorized crown. Though their selection isn’t warehouse big, it definitely has an ample amout of hats. Unless you’re searching for something very specific, you’ll probably find that gem of a hat you were, or weren’t, looking for.
3^rd Act
The pricing can be happily low to sadistically high. Depending on what you’re looking for, prepare yourself to spend a hundred or so in those greenbacks. The great thing is you do have some power to bargain the prices with the cashier, and cash is king, bypassing you from tax when applicable. That’s good service, though I didn’t meet Sal, the owner.
Epilogue
Though I left without a fresh new lid for my dome, I did leave with a sense of education, and the feeling I experienced something special and unique to Los Angeles. I’m glad to have found this place, and can’t wait to search again in the future. If clothes make the man, Hollywood Hatters can upgrade you.

If you need a hat, this is the place to go! There are so many options to choose from. Less expensive than Goorin, and Hollywood Hatters has a better selection.
Sal is awesome! He’s extremely helpful. This is actually my first Unilocal review, and I decided to write one because Sal and Hollywood Hatters took me by surprise. I felt like Sal really wanted me to walk away happy with my purchase. This is rare in retail, so I found it refreshing.
I highly recommend Hollywood Hatters for its quality, selection, price, and service.

Brought in two hats for repair. We were told two to three weeks. Sal (?) made it seem that he would be doing the repair himself. Three weeks later we called and found out that the hats not only weren’t ready, but that he had sent them out to have the work done. Every time we called after that we were told, «soon».
Six weeks in, we got a call saying the hats would be ready on monday. I went to pick them up. They weren’t there. I was told tuesday.
On wednesday, we were told the hats were back in the store. No repairs had been done. None.
Sal took two hats, kept them for six weeks and did NO WORK on them.
Once of the hats was a very expensive one purchased at this store. We will never return to this store.
Slow. Rude. Incompetent.

A haiku review:
Real good selection
Plenty o’ sizes and styles
Friendly service, too

I scored a brand spanking new fedora here last Sunday and it was a great experience. Now lets be honest, this is not the type of high end hat shop where we would expect to score a custom made, $ 700, 100% beaver felt lid. This is a place to go when you want a daily wear’er and don’t want to break the bank.
So to that end the owner was very helpful and showed me everything he had in the style I was looking for. He offered to refit the new lid, but it fit perfect from the jump and didn’t need any additional attention.
I had stopped by two weeks ago and he was sold out of all the 40’s style fedoras because there is a new gangster production getting filmed locally and they came in and bought everything he had. As promised, a new shipment arrived and I got the hat I was wanting without any heart burn.
Although, there were two dudes hanging on the side walk in front of the coffee shop next door, that were violating the city’s ordinance against mopery with intent to creep. I don’t know if they were looking to score an illegal substance from each other or just working up the courage to see If the other wanted to go home and share a sponge bath, but the two creepy Melrose dating game ritual participants had nothing to do with the hat shop (neither of the players were wearing hats!) it’s all part of living in lovely LA!
Anyway, the Hollywood lid shop gets two thumbs up.

I get my 504 wool Kangol from Sal’s shop in Smelrose. Seriously, the man has every top shelf hat stocked and ready for who ever wants to sport that Wool Fedora or that Lynwood Ave Straw. Some people say shoes and watches complete a look — I say the hat defines the man. Word.

Based on repute, I took my vintage Borsalino to this shop for blocking. When I came to pick it up, the jerk owner responded to my consternation, «Oh, there was some old, rusty water in the machine that I didn’t know about». Spots on the hat take it from perfect condition to not so good. The hat is irreplaceable. After a few years, the spots are much less noticable.
The owner, Sal, didn’t offer any compensation or real apology. I just paid for the blocking and walked out with my hat.
I’m sorry because I know that good hat shops are hard to find. But this certainly IS NOT one. The only way I’d ever give this shop any business is if Sal sold it and got out of its operation, entirely.

Ha! I found you again! I thought you guys closed down for good… They just moved next door to Stir Crazy coffee house!
I love this hat store! Small but great fedora hats and newsboy caps selections! Quite pricey though… Before, I bought 2 of my caps from their half off section… I wasn’t so lucky this time! Not much to choose from… Waaaahhhh!
Maybe next time…

I hate revealing my sources… but…
If you know me in real life, most often you will find me donning a chapeau of various sorts. People always ask me where I get my hats. I usually discover different ones in various places in Los Angeles, some are complete cheap swap meets and some are fine millneries. Hollywood Hatters is one of my favorite shops. One that I can count on to find something when I visit.
If you’re speeding along Melrose Ave, you’d never spot this hat store, because it’s so tiny. Once inside, you’ll find a large array of good quality hats. Most other stores you’ll find at a strip mall or a swap meet are of sketchy quality. Most of them made from paper that won’t last beyond a year. Hollywood Hatters has a great selection of styles in a large array of prices. I’ve found a great fedora a few years back that has lasted for only $ 40. You can find some superb hats like a panama that goes into the hundreds. Good advice is to check out their sales rack for some good discounted items ranging about 20% to even 40%.
Unlike some stores, they actually provide good advice and tips on how to maintain your hats too. Other stores are just interested in selling you a lid without any knowledge of care.