In 1908, Dan Kelly, a representative and organizer for the North American Hatter’s Union, decided to settle in Akron, Ohio. He opened a retail hat store named The Hatterie and a manufacturing company named United Hat Manufacturers.

Located at 140 and 142 South Howard Street in the heart of downtown Akron, both companies would soon become fixtures in the area’s business landscape. After the United Hat Manufactures closed in 1929, the retail stored continued to sell men’s hats and also added cleaning, blocking and renovating to its repertoire of services. In 1936, The Hatterie was forced to move to make way for Akron’s first Walgreens pharmacy, eventually settling just several doors away at 126 South Howard Street in the Quaker Oats Building.

After returning from World War II, Dan’s son Bill Kelly took over the business. After being located on Howard Street for more than 50 years, the store was once again forced to move, this time making way for Akron’s Super Block, Cascade Plaza. The Hatterie found residence this time at 121 South Main Street in 1959, and it is this location that Bill’s son Dan took over as President in 1982. In 1990, Dan again moved the store to 2196 Romig Road in the Rolling Acres area, this time adding a complete line of ladies’ hats to its stock. Finally, The Hatterie moved to its current location near Chapel Hill Mall in 2006.