I have known Graham and Nina for 25+ years and can tell you without hesitation that they own and operate the best hat shop in N America with honesty and integrity.
Making world class hats and satisfying their customers is what they do. I have owned two Optimo hats for over 15 years and they look as good as new.
Absolutely the best hat shopping experience to be certain. I absolutely love Graham's two shops. They are a real treat to visit. It is like stepping back in time, and the service is awesome. Just to see and touch so many hats of this quality is something you won't find elsewhere. Treat yourself and take a trip to Optimo Hats. You won't regret it, and you may not want to leave!
If you're seeking a quality hat and money is no object, then Optimo is your destination. You will find unparalled customer service and quality meant to last. Cleverly-displayed hats in a beautiful little boutique at the Monadnock Building, with entry from either the inside or outside, along Dearborn Street. Expect to find it closed for lunch on weekdays, when shop is kept by a single employee.
Great customer service. Very polite and classy staff. I'd recommend a visit to this store
Graham Thompson is the premier hat maker for men in the world today. He excels in felt as well as Panama and straw. Tiffany in sales is amazingly helpful, courteous and knowledgeable. Together, they make sure that each and every hat they design and sell will look good on the person who is wearing it. They know how to make a hat fit your head, which other makers can as well, but have an additional ability to make the hat right for you and your personality. You will want to wear an Optimo hat forever.
I have several of their hats, and am happy with all of them. Actually, it's about time for a new one!
The most beautiful hats in the world. Once in the shop, it is almost impossible to get out without buying at least one hat. It's crazy how many compliments I get each time I wear one of my three Optimo hats. The only drawback is the price but I think that given the quality of Optimo hats, we can not complain. The quality is such that your hat will follow you for all your life.
Yves from Montreal
I received my first Optimo for Christmas of 2019. I have only just worn it and I cannot believe how comfortable and stylish my Chicago is. This is not your few hundred dollar Stetson. Optimo is extremely high quality heirloom product. Nothing but a first class experience from ordering, to packaging to wearing!
Great customer service, awesome cleaning & block. However have yet to have one made but in the process of
I received my 2nd hat from Optimo today & I'm extremely pleased with it. A month ago I visited Optimo, met Graham & had an amazing experience designing my hat.
Perfect fit, awesome color & awesome craftsmanship.
BOY OH BOY!!! thanks a million times
Graham.
Who ever reads this review if you haven't gotten a custom hat, visit Optimo you will not regret it.
Very knowledgeable gentleman helped me find the 3 perfect hats. These are all top quality beaver so if you are looking for a $150 Stetson this probably isn t the store for you, but if you want an heirloom product that will last a lifetime, look no further.
While on a recent trip to Chicago, on a cold and blustery day, I had some spare time to do some shopping. Being a hat fan, I wanted to check out OPTIMO Hats. After a quick search and thanks to Waze (via Google Maps) I was soon parking in the car lot just behind OPTIMO. Excitedly I made my way to the store where I was greeted by Alexander. Being new to the store, I was given a brief tour as he explained the process to me. I could either buy a hat off the shelf (well, off the wires) or have one made for me at their local manufacturing location (unfortunately I didn't have time to visit their millinery). After a brief consultation, Alexander presented me with 2-3 options for me to try. I went in with a particular model in mind, which they had in my size, then he presented me with a one-of-a-kind (sort of a one-off I was told) hat based upon the Manhattan however with a 2-5/8" brim as opposed to the standard 2-1/2" brim on the Manhattan. Further, mine was made from custom stock beaver belly with a vintage copper colored ribbon (said it was 70 years old!). The hat fit me beautifully!!!! I was sold!!!
I wore the hat out and, quite literally, within minutes was complimented on the hat! By the time I left Chicago that evening I was paid no less than 6 or 7 compliments!!!
Yes, the hats here are pricey... but the old adage, "You get what you pay for!" rings true. The quality of the felt, the craftsmanship, the attention to details, the service provided - ALL of that made the experience worth it! Thankfully, I went in open minded and listened to Alexander and allowed him to make some suggestions.
Great experience for me. Will be back again for sure!
Very nice place. I went to browse the selection and the employee was very welcoming and helpful in answering my questions.
Purchased my first Optimo hat a few months ago. I get stopped all the time by people asking where I got my hat or simply to tell me how much they like it. Consistently great service at both locations. Like anything, you get what you pay for.
Tiffany has excellent customer service I brought two hats getting ready to buy my third hat from them.
I was quite disappointed with the service at the new location. My fiancee and I happened upon the store so we went in. As I work in customer service, I understand having us wait as they finished up with other customers. I do not understand not being properly greeted, having the man that came in after us helped before us, or not being given a brochure and explained to that they were busy and would love for us to come back with an appointment. My fiancee loves hats, I was excited to have him measured and have him try some on so I could come back to purchase one for him for Christmas and he wanted to look into one for our March wedding. I'm disappointed that with so many great reviews about service, that was by no means my experience. A little bit of communication goes a long way.
In Chicago for a wedding and my wife and I took the time to visit Optimo. Tiffani helped us and the visit was fantastic. Fitting and recommendations for color and style were spot on. By far the best hat and knowledgeable staff you'll find.
The greatest place on earth. Stop by to set the store even if you have no intention on getting a hat. Ask for Tiffany
I just ordered my second hat from Optimo, again with Tiffani, the store manager. My experience with this young woman is remarkable. I am 62 years old and in my lifetime she is the best sales professional I have ever met. No kidding. Let me tell you why... So let's just get clear: the hats are amazing. The best of the best. Truly the best in the USA, maybe the world. As I told my wife, a great, brilliant but expensive hat for a great, brilliant expensive head. ;-) Anyway, in April 2017, I walked into the store and Tiffani looked at me and said "I want you to walk out of this store with a hat that looks and feels as well as the one you came in with." She then measured me, turned around, took a dark hat with an upturned brim off the shelf and said. "I think this is your hat." I tried it on. Yes, it looked good. But it couldn't be, I said to myself. This fast? So I tried on dozens of hats for more than an hour. It came down to two. The one she picked and another in silver belly. I bought the one she recommended from the get go and I love it. It is so me. I received hundreds of compliments on my hat since. During my last trip to Chicago I wanted to buy a second Optimo, but I was too busy and could not make it to the store. So I called Tiffani on the phone from New York and on the spot, 1. She remembered me by name. 2. She remembered exactly what hat I had bought. And, 3. remarkably, she remembered the second choice hat exactly. I was stunned. She went back to check her notes just to verify and, unbelievably she was right. I then ordered the new hat, a Chicago in silver belly in 7.25. It was amazing! She is brilliant. I am a music journalist and writer. Google me. I am a real person and this review is true and accurate, as hard as it is to believe. The pic is from last year. Tiffani is incredible! The hats are, well, fantastic!
I had bought several hats over the years, but never found one that fit perfectly with good quality and the color I was looking for until I found Optimo, the selection, quality, types, and not to mention the level of peroffetionlisim is beyond expectations. Looking for a hat? This is the place to go.
A fantastic experience! Excellent customer service and advice from Tiffani. The hats are blindingly expensive but worth it if you can afford them.
Great service, EXTREMELY knowledgeable, great product!
I wear hats, always have, since my youth in New York City. Getting dressed up, going to the "city," to a play, dinner, jazz club in the Village etc; I put on a Pierre Cardin suit, Chavret shirt with french cuffs, Oleg Cassini silk tie, More
I own two hats from Optimo and I loved the entire experience - discovering the shop, exploring the hats, choosing the styles, being fit, and now I wear these gems with pride and honor - having patronize one of lingering entities of a culture from the past in America....
Outstanding customer service. Working withTiffani was an absolute pleasure and the hats are gorgeous. I highly recommend a visit.
I came up to Chicago to see Hamilton during the summer and just by chance found the store. I entered the store and told them I always wanted a Panama but was unsure about the style. Putting myself in their hands they selected several for me to try including a felt hat but I selected the Montecristi Teardrop that was just stunning. I took the infor down as it was summer and I wouldn't be able to get the hat till the season was over but the following spring I ordered the hat. It came in the coolest box and fit perfectly. I was very pleased with the service and attention to detail and lastly my fantastic looking hat
Northside store wasn't able to adjusted my hat after I purchased it from that location, but the manager Tiffany Bell setup a appt with Lucy to get my hat fitted the way I wanted it the following day. The owner Graham Thompson helped me out on a later visit. My suggestion is do your entire transaction at this location. No adjustments, repairs, and cleanings can be done at the location on the northside. See rating of mine for there Dearborn location. I absolutely love my hat. Beyond A+!
Alexander was knowledgeable and helped me find the perfect hat. I recommend Optimo hats to anyone interested in a top of the line hat.
Optimo is the optimal place for headwear! They are the best!
Top quality hat shop. Most are made locally and the staff really know their hats. Fun to browse even if you aren t buying. And conveniently across from an Intelligentsia coffee in the gorgeous historic Monadnock Building.
Most times, when I look forward to going somewhere or buying something for a long time, I am disappointed when it finally happens. Not so when I finally got to Optimo all the way from Mexico City. If anything, the quality of the hats and Tiffani's expert guidance and service were even better than what I hoped for.
Wow.
I do not own a fine hat. This was my first experience in Optimo and it was a pleasure. Alexander walked me through the nuisances of a fine hat. From fit to color to care I was walked through the best hat for my needs. Anyone in Chicago looking for a heirloom quality hat should give Optimo a visit.
To many to choose from wonderful colors to choose from so I got 2
A Center of Education for Leadership Values! Values self-empowerment and interdependence!
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