Cal Poly grad opens second shop in downtown SLO — a custom hat bar with ‘Western style’

Anna Armstrong
·3 min read

Running a business is in San Luis Obispo native Katelyn Kaney’s DNA.

At age 24, the Cal Poly graduate became the president and CEO of Cattaneo Bros., known for its beef jerky and sausages, following her parents’ deaths.

A few years later, Kaney launched The Mercantile, a specialty gift shop featuring Cattaneo Bros. products as well as home decor, jewelry, food and baby items, in the same downtown San Luis Obispo building where her mother’s boutique, A Bushel and A Peck, once stood.

Now Kaney has opened a second store next to The Mercantile: The Hat Bar by Kate Kaney.

The shop, which opened in April at 952 Chorro St., gives customers the opportunity to create and accessorize their own custom hats.

Customers can make appointments to pick out straw, felt or suede hats and add different accessories such as jewelry, feathers and ribbons — even playing cards.

Kaney works with a shop manager, and three stylists who help with in-shop styling sessions.

Kaney said her decision to open a hat bar was born out of a desire to bring Western style to SLO.

“I love creating, and I love watching and getting to create with other people,” Kaney said. “Growing up here, I loved the Western style and I wanted to bring that here for people that like that as well — whether it just be for fashion, or for those who truly are a part of the Western lifestyle.”

Downtown SLO shop offers custom hats

Unlike other custom hat shops where hats can cost $200 to $400, Kaney explained, The Hat Bar by Kate Kaney has a variety of hats in different price ranges.

“A lot of those hat makers make beautiful hats, but I love the concept of being able to have a hat that you can afford to get and then create and make it yours,” Kaney said. “And it’s not out of the price range for everybody.”

Among the hats for sale at her shop are Gigi Pip hats, stylish hats that offer a modern take on the Western style.

In addition to working with local artists, Kaney spends hours perusing Instagram and Etsy to source her materials. She looks for entrepreneurs selling unique jewelry, pins and accessories for hats.

The Hat Bar by Kate Kaney, located on Toro Street, offers a variety of custom hats.
The Hat Bar by Kate Kaney, located on Toro Street, offers a variety of custom hats.

Since opening her shop in April, Kaney has brought her hats to a variety of events such as birthday parties, bachelorette parties, the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and, most recently, the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles.

The response has “been awesome” so far, Kaney said. “It’s been much more than I honestly ever hoped for this little store.”

Kaney says she hopes to take the trailer the group uses for parties and booths out to some more of all of the Central Coast’s fun pop-up events.

She would also like to take the custom hat making to the next level by bringing in someone to shape hats to customers’ heads.

“There has just been so much support locally and even from people that are coming from out of town,” Kaney said. “I appreciate everyone who has been supportive by spreading the word.”

At The Hat Bar in San Luis Obispo, customers can design their own unique hats in a variety of ways, adding jewelry, ribbon and other accessories.
At The Hat Bar in San Luis Obispo, customers can design their own unique hats in a variety of ways, adding jewelry, ribbon and other accessories.

More information about The Hat Bar

The Hat Bar is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 9 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. The Hat Bar is also open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, call 1 805-459-7317, email hatbarbykk@themercantileslo.com or book an appointment online.