Local Tobacco Shop Wears Many Hats

The local tobacconist is as mad as a hatter.

(3144 M St.) has resumed its sale of luxury men's hats and now, the store owner believes, he is the only such hat provider in Georgetown.

David Berkebile, who first opened the store 46 years ago, used to sell hats in the 1990s along with the shop's usual collection of cigars, tobacco pipes and various odds and ends like cuff links and Venetian masks.

He used to sell "all the better hats in the world" including models made in Italy and the United States. He sold about 100 hats a year, ranging in price from $90 to $2,000 for handmade hats, but abandoned the business five years ago.

Now, following the closing of a The Hattery in Georgetown Park and Proper Topper's Georgetown location, two local hat shops, Berkebile decided to return to the business.

Right now, Georgetown Tobacco sells Stetson and Dobbs hats. The hats are summer-ready and most are made of straw and come from Texas, Mexico and Ecuador. They range in price from $90 to $150.

Berkebile hopes to expand his hat offerings later this year. He has $10,000 worth of hats scheduled to ship to the store this fall.

“There’s a market for hats anywhere,” Berkebile said. “It takes time to develop the market again.”