BELLE FOURCHE—Area Chamber members gathered at the Weather Hat Company to spend an evening enjoying some hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and good company on May 19. The public was also invited to attend.
The May Chamber Mixer saw a great turnout as the Weather Hat Company was filled with area folks. The Homestead Store was on hand to give attendees samples of flavored olive oils and vinegars to try with fresh bread and watermelon. They also crafted a variety of mocktails using ingredients available in their store.
The Weather Hat Company has a hat for every occasion; the store has shelves full of straw hats perfect for the warmer weather. And, of course, if they don’t have the hat of your dreams, then perhaps you can have owner Jack Scholl craft one specially for you. He has been making custom hats for quite a while. “We have been in business in Belle Fourche for 23 years. Jack has been making hats for 23 years here,” explained Jennifer Scholl.
If you are looking for anything pertaining to hats, then this is the store for you! “We have manufactured hats as well that can be shaped and hat accessories. We have hat bands and different things like that; they have some little hat ear warmers that attach to a hat,” shared Jennifer.
Building a custom hat is quite a process. “Every hat is made for the individual person who walks in that door, so you would measure your head, get the size and the shape, then a block is made to match your head shape, and the hat is made according to the shape,” explained Jennifer. “Jack starts with an open crown, and you choose your quality, your color, and your shape—price is the same. The quality is what changes the price, and if you want a bound edge, or if you want a ribbon and bow, or if you want some sort of a different finish.”
It takes around 40 hours to make one hat. Jack can make around five hats at a time. He works on one and shapes another during the drying time. If you are wanting a one-of-a-kind hat made just for you, you have to get in line. Jennifer said, “Right now he’s about 10 months out.”
Jack has a passion for making hats. Jennifer shared, “We talked about retiring, and he said, ‘I am retired. I’m doing exactly what I want to do.’”
Jennifer stays busy doing popular hat bars. She explained, “What we do is take a manufactured hat—you pick out the hat you love, and then we decorate it. We have different fabrics, different leathers, different hat bands, and you can layer it. You can do feathers on it, and if you want to change it, we don’t glue anything on; everything is taped and sewn on.”
The hat bar is a very trendy event. If you are interested in hosting a party that includes a hat bar, reach out to the Weather Hat Co. for more information.
Jennifer also has a store in Spearfish on Heritage Drive called Black Hills Deals and Steals. You can find her there Thursday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Chamber of Commerce Director Michaela Horn took time to thank everyone for coming.
“Thank you so much for coming to the Chamber Mixer tonight… thank you to our lovely host at Weather Hat Company, Jack and Jennifer. Thank you for incorporating the Homestead Store,” she said.
The Connect and Collect drawing is held at every monthly Chamber Mixer. It is offered to just Chamber members. Every Chamber member business name is put into a pot, and each month one name is drawn out. The winner receives the current cash of $400. You must be present to win. This Coca-Cola High County was picked this month; no one from their business was at the mixer, so the money rolls over to next month.
The June Chamber Mixer will be Friday, June 19, at the Spearfish Sasquatch game. The Chamber has rented out the party deck, and tickets can be purchased at the game that evening.
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