Does anyone have any experience with Catalena Hatters in Bryan, TX?

Don't really have any specific questions, just wondering if anyone had opinions to share. I'm strongly considering a 50x or 100x hat from them.

Catalenahats.com

Good people and great local business. Have purchased several straw and felt hats from them over the years. Palm leaf summer work hat was my most recent purchase. Great selection for kids as well. They are knowledgeable and pricing is competitive. I'd personally go there versus Cavender's.

Never worn their hats, I've been to their wine mixer though.

Boats and ho's

I have purchased palm leaf hats there and they have also redone some felt hats that I did not purchase there.

Good People and Good Service

Great people, great hats, and a huge selection at that. They also offer different oval shapes so that the hat truly fits your head.

They know what they're doing, unlike the kiddos at Cavender's/other major retailers.

I had my 20x silver belly hat renovated there. Excellent work @ a fair price.

they refurbished my grandpas hat that was purchased around 1950 and did an excellent job. would recommend them to anyone looking for that type of work.

They are definitely your best option for the Bryan/College Station area. I have bought a few straws from them and had a couple of outside felts re-creased. They are the only ones locally that I will let work on my hats. That being said, my next hat will probably come from 5D hats in Abilene or JW Brooks in Lipan.

I've gotten a few pure beaver hats from Texas Hatters in Lockhart.

I can strongly recommend them

No knowledge of the folks the OP asked about, but a custom made hat is the same price as a high end production hat and offers more flexibility in the felt, but less rigidity.

(At least with mine. When I had the crown reworked, David was able to stretch the felt to get it where I wanted but it does seem to need to get rained on/more touching up than my Resistols - but those are also not nearly the same grade of felt.

BroncStomper06 said:

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They are definitely your best option for the Bryan/College Station area. I have bought a few straws from them and had a couple of outside felts re-creased. They are the only ones locally that I will let work on my hats. That being said, my next hat will probably come from 5D hats in Abilene or JW Brooks in Lipan.

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JW Brooks $700-1200...

Dang

JW built a hat for my wife several years ago, and at least at that time, was able to work with me on pricing. I can tell you that hers did not fall in that range. Nevertheless, she does wear a better hat than me.

If you want the best, get one from Shorty's Hats out of Oklahoma. She can send you something to measure the circumference or shape of your head, or you can catch them at any large cutting horse event in Texas.

Talk to Scott at Catalena Hatters, he will get you fixed up! Best in the business

+1 for Scott. Could probably shape a hat with his eyes closed.

I recently had two hats renovated and one hat scrubbed down there. I don't see how I could be happier with the excellent job they did, first rate all the way. Scott is a hat shaping ninja. He got my hats shaped right with almost no touch up adjustments.

I don't think you could go wrong buying a hat there. They're good folks who know what they're doing.

Yep, good folks. Used to use them many years ago to clean and reshape.

Glad to hear all the positive reviews. I had basically decided to buy one but just wanted to make sure that they didn't have a bad reputation. Thanks.

Bradley.Kohr.II said:

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I've gotten a few pure beaver hats from Texas Hatters in Lockhart.

I can strongly recommend them

No knowledge of the folks the OP asked about, but a custom made hat is the same price as a high end production hat and offers more flexibility in the felt, but less rigidity.

(At least with mine. When I had the crown reworked, David was able to stretch the felt to get it where I wanted but it does seem to need to get rained on/more touching up than my Resistols - but those are also not nearly the same grade of felt.

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I already have a hat from Texas Hatters. Mine is also full beaver and about 30 years old from back when they were in Austin. I took it into their shop in Lockhart recently to have the silk reglued and to have it reshaped. They did a great job and didn't charge me. They also made it clear that they hated Aggies.

Complaint Investigator said:

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If you want the best, get one from Shorty's Hats out of Oklahoma. She can send you something to measure the circumference or shape of your head, or you can catch them at any large cutting horse event in Texas.

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I will try to keep that name in mind for down the road.

? Really? David knows I'm an Aggie and we discussed maroon and white hat bands with issue...

Surprised by that, but could have been someone else. He's not the only one that worked there

I am much happier with the quality and service of The Hat Store in Houston than Catalena. I will look at both hats tonight for their Xs, don't remember at the moment.

I believe it was David, although I could be wrong. He didn't mean to be rude. He was talking trash not knowing that I was an Aggie. Of course, I immediately told him.

I'm interested to hear what the problem with the quality was.

The Hat Store fellows have lovely stuff - but double, at least, Texas Hatters. At least, for the beaver and some beaver chinchilla blend he was talking about... Maybe beaver and mink - beaver and something very high.

Scott is your man at Catalenas

I bought a silver belly from them back in '08. Best hat I've ever owned.

Bought hats for my command staff at the fire department. It was definitely well received

Since starting this thread I have bought several hats from Catelena and had them work on one from another maker. Nothing but great experiences with Catalena.

Contact the best Hat Maker in Texas , Donnie the owner , class of 1976 in New Braunfels at the High Breahm hat Shop...the best there is, an artist to say the least!!!