20,000 Hats and Counting
Meyer The Hatter has been putting hats on heads in New Orleans since 1894, when Sam H. Meyer opened a shop during a time when a man without a hat was like a house without a roof — technically functional but socially incomplete. Originally called Meyer's Hatbox, the store has survived the decline of everyday hat-wearing, the rise of baseball caps, the death of the fedora, and the resurrection of the fedora, maintaining its position as the oldest family-owned hat store in the United States.
The numbers are staggering. At any given time, Meyer The Hatter stocks approximately 20,000 hats. The store claims to be "The South's Largest Hat Store," and nobody has credibly challenged that claim. Walking into the store on St. Charles Avenue is like entering a hat museum that happens to sell its exhibits — every wall, shelf, and display case is filled with headwear ranging from classic fedoras to Stetsons, from flat caps to top hats, from straw boaters to fur felts.
Three Generations on St. Charles
Three generations of the Meyer family currently work at the store, which is the kind of continuity that would be remarkable anywhere and is practically miraculous on a commercial avenue that has seen businesses come and go with the regularity of streetcars. The family's expertise is encyclopedic — they can tell you the difference between a homburg and a trilby, fit a hat to your head with the precision of a tailor, and recommend a style based on your face shape, wardrobe, and tolerance for attention.
The store's location on St. Charles Avenue puts it in the path of the streetcar line and at the edge of the CBD, making it accessible from virtually anywhere in the city. It's the kind of store that tourists discover by accident and locals have known about for generations — a place where your grandfather bought his hat, your father bought his hat, and now you're buying yours.
The Hat City
New Orleans has always been a hat city. The culture of dressing up — for church, for parades, for Jazz Fest, for no particular reason at all — runs deep here, and hats are an essential part of that tradition. The Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs that organize second line parades are famous for their coordinated hat-and-suit ensembles. Mardi Gras Indians spend months on their crowns. Even casual Sunday brunch in certain neighborhoods requires headwear that makes a statement.
Meyer The Hatter has outfitted all of them — the second liners, the church ladies, the jazz musicians, the businessmen, the tourists looking for a souvenir with more substance than a plastic bead necklace. The store sits at the intersection of fashion, tradition, and identity, selling objects that are both practical and personal in a way that few accessories can match.
Frequently Asked Questions About Meyer The Hatter
How old is Meyer The Hatter?
Meyer The Hatter was founded in 1894 by Sam H. Meyer. It is the oldest family-owned hat store in the United States.
How many hats does Meyer The Hatter carry?
The store stocks approximately 20,000 hats at any given time and claims to be the largest hat store in the South.
Where is Meyer The Hatter?
Meyer The Hatter is located on St. Charles Avenue in downtown New Orleans, along the streetcar line near the edge of the Central Business District.
Is Meyer The Hatter still family-owned?
Yes. Three generations of the Meyer family currently work at the store, maintaining more than 130 years of family ownership and hat expertise.
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