Abe Cortez
Paris Hatters
San Antonio, Texas
Abe Cortez was involved in his father’s hat business from a very young age. Paris Hatters was founded in 1917 in San Antonio, Texas. His parents, Ruby and Abe, set the example of dedication, sacrifice and hard work necessary for success.
After graduating from college in 1974, he set out to advance the image and footprint of Paris Hatters and has worked seven days a week for the past 50 years to make this a reality. He married his high school sweetheart, Myrna in 1979, and they have one daughter, Alexandra, who is now the store manager. In her role, she looks to the future and continues to evolve the family’s business.
Abe initially understood that the location of Paris Hatters, which is adjacent to the Alamo and Riverwalk, could not be better for marketing to San Antonio’s large tourist trade. He approached city officials with the idea of offering fine western hats as gifts to visiting dignitaries. Over the years, there have been countless influential recipients, including two generations of Spanish royalty. Even one resident of the Vatican, now a saint, has worn a hat from Abe’s store. The archbishops of Texas came to Abe when Pope John Paul II visited in 1987, choosing to present him with a fine Stetson which was formally approved by the Vatican. Mrs. Frances Gardner, then President of Stetson Hat Company, was a vital part of Abe’s achieving this honor.
As the image of Paris Hatters grew, Abe attracted a large celebrity clientele. Because the store offered custom styling and fitting on the spot, busy travelers enjoyed the quality and speed with which they could get the perfect hat. Soon, media outlets such as Travel Channel, Condé Nast, Southern Living, the History channel’s American Pickers, and other national publications were covering his little hat store. Abe’s clientele includes such recognizable names as Johnny Cash, Luciano Pavarotti, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan, and Tommy Lee Jones.
Abe achieved Hatco’s Retailer of the Year in 2012 for the Western hat division and was awarded the same honor in 2018 for their Dress hat category. Paris Hatters was also honored by the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation as a Legacy Business. Paris Hatters is often noted by the city and San Antonians as an icon of San Antonio’s culture and history.
Being fitted at Paris Hatters has become a rite of passage for locals. For many visitors, their trip to San Antonio begins with a visit to Abe; and for some, it is the only reason they come to his city. Abe’s team has been engaged to fit executive groups such as AT&T, John Deere, Uber, and Marshall’s stores, just to name a few.
Abe’s approach to business is simple. He is there daily to see that the buyer is treated as an individual, with proper attention given to his personal needs and a hat to reflect his own persona, and with an aesthetic that fits him or her perfectly. It is not just a purchase, but an experience. Most clients enjoy their visit so much that they ask for photos with him as a memento. Abe attributes much of his success to the support of his wife and daughter, and to the loyal and skilled team of hatters.
This is what success means to Abe and he knows he has done well when his clients leave with a skip in their step. He loves his profession.
Congratulations Abe Cortez, our 2024 Rosenthal Award Winner!
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