Byrnie Utz in Seattle

mcddyea · Oct 8, 2008

I'm heading to Seattle tomorrow, and wonder if Byrnie Utz is still at 310 Union. Does anyone have an update on them? Last I heard, their lease was expiring.

Thanks.

handlebar bart · Oct 8, 2008

mcddyea said:
I'm heading to Seattle tomorrow, and wonder if Byrnie Utz is still at 310 Union. Does anyone have an update on them? Last I heard, their lease was expiring.

Thanks.

I believe they are still in the same location.

tonyb · Oct 8, 2008

Yeah, I'm pretty darned sure they're still there. A local public radio station (KPLU) did a feature on them a few months back, wherein it was mentioned that the lease was up this year and there was some doubt if they would renew, seeing how it's a family-run business and some of the younger folks are thinking that some other place (Vegas was mentioned, as I recall) might be where a brighter future lies.

But last time I was in there, three or four months ago, it was pretty strongly suggested that they ain't going anywhere anytime soon. When I first heard the talk of them possibly shutting down in Seattle, my heart sank a bit, seeing how the place really is essentially unchanged from what it was when it opened, in 1938, I believe it was. Same fixtures, same furnishings. They don't even have a computer. None that I ever saw, anyway.

handlebar bart · Oct 8, 2008

And God help you if you even LOOK like you are gonna grab a hat by the crown. Don't even think the thought.lol

fedoralover · Oct 8, 2008

Here's Byrnie's

I've posted these pics before, but there have been so many new members, that I thought I'd post them again.

outside of Byrnie's

Inside of Byrnie's.

fedoralover

Mike in Seattle · Oct 8, 2008

They're still there. I have a friend working at the Symphony offices a block away who know they're dead if they don't keep me updated on the latest on the move to the new location.

mcddyea · Oct 8, 2008

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm looking forward to my visit to Byrnie Utz and trying on a lot of hats!

tonyb · Oct 8, 2008

handlebar bart said:
And God help you if you even LOOK like you are gonna grab a hat by the crown. Don't even think the thought.lol

Yes, and good for them. When the straws are out in large numbers, in the spring and summer, Paul and company prominently display a few with cracked crowns, along with notices warning against handling hats by the crown.

Selentino · Oct 8, 2008

Was there just a few weeks ago. After the attack and lecture on handling a hat as soon as I walked in. I was looking at an open crown Borso and was quite impressesd by the young lady who worked there. She did not seem old enough to know much at all but I watched her put a very nice diamond in the hat in just a few seconds without a second thought as we were talking. I tried it many times since and have failed every time.

Dave McCone · Oct 9, 2008

I was in about two months ago, and talked to Bev, Paul's wife. At that point, they were still talking to the building owner, but the general gist of the conversation was that they wouldn't be moving.

Colby Jack · Oct 9, 2008

fedoralover said:
I've posted these pics before, but there have been so many new members, that I thought I'd post them again.

outside of Byrnie's

Inside of Byrnie's.

fedoralover

Great shots Fedoralover...we need a thread devoted to hat shops and lots of pics to document them...:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Hoc · Oct 9, 2008

It's still there, and I'm heading over there this weekend. Great shop, my only complaint is that parking can be a PITA.

jpbales · Oct 9, 2008

ah

fedoralover said:
I've posted these pics before, but there have been so many new members, that I thought I'd post them again.

outside of Byrnie's

Inside of Byrnie's.

fedoralover

Seeing these pictures make me feel so sad! It's my dream to one day go to a real hat shop (and actually be well enough off to buy a nice hat too!) Too bad there's so few here in Georgia.

Maybe someday I'll open a hat shop! Some day...

indycop · Oct 9, 2008

jpbales said:
Seeing these pictures make me feel so sad! It's my dream to one day go to a real hat shop (and actually be well enough off to buy a nice hat too!) Too bad there's so few here in Georgia. Maybe someday I'll open a hat shop! Some day...

You could go to Majormoore's shop on a day trip!

carter · Oct 9, 2008

What I really like in the 2nd photo is seeing hatboxes stacked three high above the shelves on the perimeter of the room. You know these folks move some hats.

handlebar bart · Oct 9, 2008

carter said:
What I really like in the 2nd photo is seeing hatboxes stacked three high above the shelves on the perimeter of the room. You know these folks move some hats.

And the picture really doesn't do the place justice. The walls are lined with glass faced cabinets full of hats. It is cramped quarters in there, hats everywhere. I spent acouple hours in there with a buddy and I still didn't see all I wanted to despite the relatively small store it is.

tandmark · Oct 10, 2008

Good News for Seattle Hat Lovers!

Hey folks,

I thought everyone knew already, or I'd have posted this earlier.

When I visited there a couple weeks ago, the clerk said they'd FINALLY been able to renew their lease at an acceptable monthly dollar amount. :eusa_clap

He thought it was a multi-year lease. Six years is how long I think he said it was for.

On the down side, now I'm doomed to keep giving them big chunks of the money that should be going to my retirement fund.

Cheers,
Mark

tonyb · Oct 10, 2008

Glad to hear it. They've gotten quite a bit of my dough over the years, before I got so involved in the vintage and custom thing. But I still make a point of buying a relatively inexpensive straw from them at least once annually.

handlebar bart · Oct 10, 2008

That is great news. The city should really make an effort to keep historic stores open in their original location.

tonyb · Oct 10, 2008

handlebar bart said:
That is great news. The city should really make an effort to keep historic stores open in their original location.

Frederick & Nelson, Bon Marche, Eclipse Hat Shop ...

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