Notable New Orleanians: A Tricentennial Tribute

MEYER THE
HATTER
Bottom: From left to right; Paul Meyer, Big
Sam of Big Sam’s Funky Nation, third
generation Sam Meyer, and fourth
generation Michael Meyer.
Meyer The Hatter deserves a “tip of the
hat” as it celebrates its 124th year in 2018.
The family-owned New Orleans business
spanning five generations provides men and
women with the finest in hats of all styles and
colors from the world’s leading headwear
manufacturers. Meyer The Hatter was founded
in 1894 by Sam H. Meyer, who had
worked in a hat store on St. Charles Street in
Downtown New Orleans. As a boy of fourteen,
he delivered hats on foot to customers
throughout the city, as well as stock keeping
and brushing the hats. Later on, he was promoted
to sales and developed a dream of
owning his own hat store.
At thirty-two, he opened Meyer’s Hat Box at
116 St. Charles Street. The name was later
changed to Meyer The Hatter. The store started
small, carrying Stetson hats and neck ties, and
prospered. Sam’s son, Andrew, began helping
his father in the store during the 1920s. Meyer
The Hatter survived The Great Depression, and
later moved to 136 St. Charles Street.
Andrew’s oldest son, Sam II, was drafted in
1943 into the Army Air Corps and served in the
370th Fighter Group of the 9th Air Force during
World War II. He was stationed on air fields
in England, France, Belgium and Germany.
After the war, Sam II returned to New
Orleans and began working in the hat store in
1946. His younger brother, William, joined him
a year later. The third generation brothers
became the store’s co-owners in the mid-1960s.
Many famous customers have shopped at
Meyer The Hatter over the years, including
movie stars, musicians, and other celebrities
such as Aaron Neville, Cyril Neville, Fats
Domino, Dr. John, Kermit Ruffins, Jimmy
Buffett, Elvis Costello, Eric Clapton, Tom
Petty, Susan Sarandon, Laurence Fishburne,
Kevin Spacey, Reggie Jackson, Tennessee
Williams, James Taylor, Neil Patrick Harris,
Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Laurie, Yannick
Noah, Sylvester Stallone, and Regis Philbin.
Today, Meyer The Hatter is located at 120
St. Charles Avenue where it has earned the title
of The South’s Largest Hat Store, selling quality
hats and caps for men and women from Bailey,
Dobbs, Kangol, Mayser, Selentino, Stetson, and
many other hat brands. Fourth generation
owner Paul Meyer, his wife Pascale,
their sons Cedric and Christopher, his
brother Michael, and his parents
Sam and Marcelle are all active in the
business. Meyer The Hatter also sells
their hats through their website,
www.meyerthehatter.com, to people
from across the country and around the
world. Fifth generation brothers,
Cedric and Christopher, plan to continue
the Meyer family tradition of providing
personal service and great hats to all
of Meyer The Hatter’s loyal customers
for years to come.
NOTABLE NEW ORLEANIANS: A Tricentennial Tribute
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