Since 2001, Hats of the Fillmore has been providing snazzy headwear to customers from all walks of life, thanks to owner Anna Yue. Since taking over her friend's hip-hop clothing store in the same location, she's worked hard to build out her inventory to include increasingly higher-end goods while trying to maintain the jazz-laden spirit of the Fillmore community. In fact, she cites her interaction with customers as her favorite part of the job.
"I love the community and the neighborhood," she told us. "If you come in you're family, you're a friend. I have lots of repeat customers, and the more you come in, the more of a friend you become."
When Yue assumed ownership of her friend's former business, she decided to switch the store to a hat shop because she felt that while hip-hop fashions go quickly in and out of style, hats have a more timeless quality. She also pointed out that a wider variety of people are in the market for hats, both straightforward and fancy.
"You name it, I carry everything," said Yue. "After 14 years, I've kept upgrading so I've been getting better hats over the years." Today, her best men's brands include Kangol, Bailey Hats, Scala, Stetson, Brixton, Goorin Brothers, and Borsalino. For women, her favorites are Grace, Betmar, and San Diego Hat Company.
"Out of all of them, Bailey Hats are my favorite," Yue told us. "They aren't too expensive, but they are quality and made in the US."
Whether it's serving a visiting band from The Fillmore or one of her regulars, Yue believes that finding the right hat is a very personal process, and she loves working with people to get the right fit. With prices ranging from $22 to $350 for a Borsalino (pictured below), she feels confident that she can usually find something for everyone.
Looking to the future, Yue plans to stay in her current location, and as the neighborhood evolves around her, she hopes to help preserve some of the historic aspects of the Fillmore's legacy. She's already begun painting murals on the interior walls reflecting this, and plans to push more of the old-style hats she carries.
"I have respect for the Fillmore and for Fillmore Street. When I think about this neighborhood, I think about jazz music," Yue told us. "When you think about those days, you think about jazz. Look at the old pictures. Every gentleman is wearing a hat."
