I bought my first Panama straw hat from Byrnie Utz Hats in the early 1970's after seeing the movie Chinatown, the stylish film noir classic with Jack Nicholson as private eye Jake Gittes. There are few, if any, stores left like this in Seattle or anywhere else. The store harkens back to a time when no man would have gone out in public without a hat. I have bought several hats there over the years, including two beautiful Stetson fedoras. The first one was black and I had my initials stamped into the hatband in gold leaf at this store. I still keep it in the same original Stetson hatbox. I grew up in Seattle, but I live in Portland now. I'm planning several trips up to Seattle this summer and Byrnie Utz Hats is near the top on my list of places to visit. I know I will find something great there!
more