Club Obi Wan

A few weeks ago, HJS and I discovered that there's a hat store in Bisbee, AZ called Optimo Hatworks. We were wondering how they got away with using the name--I mentioned it to ITG, and I think she said it's actually a style of hat. Anyhow, we drove down there today to take a look, and we give it a big thumbs up. They DO do felt hats, and they do them well (and there's not a scrap of wool to be found anywhere in the store), but it seems as if they especially do straw hats. In fact, the reason we wanted to check them out was because HJS wanted to see if they could do a straw version of Joe Jr.'s PB Custom (for everyday wear in the Arizona heat), as Joe apparently can't get the bash quite right, and doesn't want to do a half-@ss job. They had a wide array of styles in straw. And, it turns out that Grant (the guy who runs the shop) not only knows of Optimo in Chicago, but has hung out with Graham many times! Anyways, I didn't get out of the store without buying a hat. (And I just bought a whip....looks like both Minnesota and I have been bad lately!!! ) I got a palm straw fedora, with a pretty wide brim. One really neat detail is the fact that they have rolls and rolls of vintage ribbon from the 40's, so I had them put a wide medium brown ribbon on mine. We're going back to pick it up next weekend, as well as HJS's PB Custom--he's having it stretched, as it's always been a bit too tight, and leaves a big red mark on his forehead. He also ordered a hat block to keep it on when he's not wearing it, so it won't shrink back down. Really neat--it either sits on 4 little legs, or can be hung on the wall.

As a side note, we mentioned Indygear (of course!), and I started talking about my whip. Both Grant and his wife were really interested (he said, "It's been a long time since I cracked a whip")--so I went out and grabbed my Joe Strain (which I just happened to have in the car...well, I rarely go anywhere without it these days!)--and they were really excited about it. He was thrilled to see such a fine-quality whip. Apparently, he's into throwing knives and axes and whatnot, and was really interested in getting back into cracking whips. So, we wrote down all the websites for WSP, Joe Strain, Paul Stenhouse, etc. Turns out, too, that he knows about David Morgan--he actually was in touch with him awhile back about making kangaroo hatbands for him. Small world, eh?

Oh--he has a picture of Indiana Jones on the wall, along with a picture of Bogart, one of Marlene Dietrich in a fabulous fedora!, as well as may others. He also has all sorts of neat stuff hanging on the walls, and decided he needed a whip as well. And, to top it all off, he and his wife said they'd like to have us over for a BBQ sometime! They were so great. I highly recommend them.

Here's the website address:
http://www.optimohatworks.com

I just looked, and the products section is under construction right now, but give it a look anyways.

All in all, a very successful trip.
Regards--Maryon

I have to concur with everything above; this trip (and this store) was a wonderfully good time. Although I have to admit to feeling rather...underdressed...leaving that store without my PB Custom. Ah, now the wait for next weekend when I can pick it up!

And then there's the matter of badly wanting to give Grant the go-ahead to fashion a Panama straw with all the best visual qualities of the PB Custom, but not really having the $$$ to commission such an artistic work. Well, next week is my birthday.... We'll just have to see if any $$$ floats my way.

Grant (and his Mrs.) do really fine work, beginning with raw straw shells direct from Panama, and coming out with some extremely beautiful results. Prices start at under $200, and, depending upon the fineness of the straw (Grant really rarely starts with anything more coarse than #10 Fino, and often works with #14, which looks for all the world like quality linen), and the customizing work, can top out well into the thousands(!). In addition, he is familiar with Graham at the Chicago Optimo store, and, at least somewhat recently, visited the Windy City location to discuss hats and tear up the local entertainment scene in style. The store, while small, is chock-a-block (OK, pun partially intended...) with wonderful tools-of-the-trade and ambiance, and is actually big enough to crack a 6-footer (Maryon had quite a good time doing so!

Anyway, we seem to have made some good new friends this weekend, and shall be visiting them again sometime next weekend. Another reason to be truly happy with what we do (Gear), and the real-life adventures we share in its pursuit. Also another quality hat maker with which to be acquainted!

Regards,

Henry Jones, Sr.

How far is Bisbee from where y'all are at?

It's just a little under 100 miles. Not too far a drive, especially for quality hats! It's a cute little town--when we go back next weekend, we're going to leave a lot earlier so we can explore it more. We may also stop in Tombstone again so we can see the shootout.
Regards--Maryon

Sounds like quite the place,

If I'm ever in Arizona (and I plan to be EVERYWHERE someday) I'll have to look it (and you guys!) up!

Thanks for the tip,

Regards,

Farn

I've only had the pleasure of staying in Bisbee once in my life, and it was a dream.

The streets are safe to play in at night, there's a playground on the corner, and everyone knows each other

I swear, crossing under the overpass that leads into town is like travelling back to the 50's. It's beautiful.

IndyCoil wrote:I've only had the pleasure of staying in Bisbee once in my life, and it was a dream.

The streets are safe to play in at night, there's a playground on the corner, and everyone knows each other

I swear, crossing under the overpass that leads into town is like travelling back to the 50's. It's beautiful.

I agree. Touristy? Perhaps, but not as much as many "scenic historical mining towns". Certainly not as much as Tombstone, where the site of the famous shootout at the O.K. Corral isn't really quite where it happened....

Bisbee is really quite quaint, and very charming. The few folks we did meet when we were there were just good ol' quality folks. I could see living there...and going into Tombstone (about 20 miles away) if I ever wanted to raise some he11....

Regards,

Henry Jones, Sr.

I'm definitely going to bring my whip to Helldorado Days in Tombstone next month! I just got a cute saloon girl outfit off of eBay, too, so I'll wear that, most likely. YEE-HAH!! Crackin' the whip in the streets of Tombstone!!
Regards--Maryon

Well, we went down yesterday and picked up our hats....HJS's PB custom now fits him much better noe (doesn't give him a headache anymore), and I got my palm fedora. Very stylin'! I'll post pictures eventually, but that means taking pictures the old-fashioned way (remember those cameras you had to put film in?), getting them developed, sending them off to our good friend MN Jones (who, yes, I know, I still owe a bunch of pictures from the QM to!), who made a kind offer to scan and host pictures for me. Bit of a wait, but this hat's cute--guys, it'd make a great present for your ladies, and for our growing contingent of female Indygear members--you'll want one once you see it. Not "screen-accurate", but definitely in the Indy spirit nonetheless. Oh, and HJS commissioned a straw Panama version of his Indy fedora.
Regards--Maryon