Bon Ton Hatters: Difference between revisions
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'''Bon Ton Hatters''' is a traditional hat and shoe repair shop | [[Image:Bon Ton Hatters.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Bon Ton Hatters in 2013]] | ||
'''Bon Ton Hatters''' is a traditional hat and shoe repair shop on [[20th Street North]] that was founded in [[1907]] by [[Constantine Callis]] and his son [[Jimmy Callis Sr]], who had operated a shoe shop together in Greece before emigrating to the United States. They both worked for the [[Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company]] before opening their own shop in [[Birmingham]]. | |||
With men's hats still out of fashion, shoe repairs and shines | When it opened, Bon Ton was one of dozens of hat shops [[Downtown]]. In the 1920s it was located at 204 or 206 20th Street North in the [[Roden Block]] building. When his father retired, [[Jimmy Callis Jr]] took over the business with a pledge to try to keep it open past the century mark. | ||
The shop moved to 219 20th Street in [[1979]] and gradually became the only shop in the city where a hat could be properly cleaned and reshaped. With men's hats still out of fashion, shoe repairs and shines made up the larger part of Bon Ton's business. A row of shoeshine chairs along one wall stayed full of customers when the younger Jimmy began working. By the time he closed the business in late [[2016]] even that part of the business was struggling. | |||
Callis, who owned the building and lived upstairs, sold the property when he retired in [[2016]]. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Hubbard, Russell (April 2, 2006) "City's economy hums along 24 hours all different ways." | * Hubbard, Russell (April 2, 2006) "City's economy hums along 24 hours all different ways." {{BN}} | ||
* Williams, Roy L. (October 7, 2010) "Five questions with Jimmy Callis, owner of Bon Ton Hatters Shoe Repair." {{BN}} | |||
* Poe, Kelly (November 28, 2016) "Bon Ton Hatters to close after more than a century in downtown Birmingham." {{BN}} | |||
==External link== | ==External link== | ||
* [http://flickr.com/photos/ | * [http://www.flickr.com/photos/my_backyard_walk_with_christ_in_madison_ms/4423663339/ Photo of Bon Ton Hatters] on Flickr.com | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Former shops]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Roden Block]] | ||
[[Category:1927 Porter Clothing Co. building]] | |||
[[Category:1907 establishments]] | |||
[[Category:2016 disestablishments]] | |||
[[Category:1907 establishments]] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:37, 18 February 2023
Bon Ton Hatters is a traditional hat and shoe repair shop on 20th Street North that was founded in 1907 by Constantine Callis and his son Jimmy Callis Sr, who had operated a shoe shop together in Greece before emigrating to the United States. They both worked for the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company before opening their own shop in Birmingham.
When it opened, Bon Ton was one of dozens of hat shops Downtown. In the 1920s it was located at 204 or 206 20th Street North in the Roden Block building. When his father retired, Jimmy Callis Jr took over the business with a pledge to try to keep it open past the century mark.
The shop moved to 219 20th Street in 1979 and gradually became the only shop in the city where a hat could be properly cleaned and reshaped. With men's hats still out of fashion, shoe repairs and shines made up the larger part of Bon Ton's business. A row of shoeshine chairs along one wall stayed full of customers when the younger Jimmy began working. By the time he closed the business in late 2016 even that part of the business was struggling.
Callis, who owned the building and lived upstairs, sold the property when he retired in 2016.
References
- Hubbard, Russell (April 2, 2006) "City's economy hums along 24 hours all different ways." The Birmingham News
- Williams, Roy L. (October 7, 2010) "Five questions with Jimmy Callis, owner of Bon Ton Hatters Shoe Repair." The Birmingham News
- Poe, Kelly (November 28, 2016) "Bon Ton Hatters to close after more than a century in downtown Birmingham." The Birmingham News
External link
- Photo of Bon Ton Hatters on Flickr.com