I don't know quite why it says it's closed, I just went in there today. Now it is under the new name of McLaughlin and Hayes which incorporates both shops of the brass rooster and I believe it was the hen hat or hen shop. They were open fully staffed fully stocked I found the piece that I had seriously considered last time I was in there an easy check out friendly service and a beautiful new hat. There were even other happy customers in the shop as well. read more

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We had an awesome visit! Bought three hats including Kentucky Derby hats. Any wait to go back.

Arrogant, self-important posers. In other words, they're in just the right neighborhood. How many "shops" do you find in MKE open only by appointment? You're selling hats, kids -- not running a cancer clinic. Still, I'm sure they'll be just fine until Bay View finally disappears up it's own... read more

John and Kate are the most pleasant and amazing hosts, offering something no one in Milwaukee can when it comes to custom and retail dress and casual hats! I came in with my wife and a friend, and we left with 4 hats, all adjusted to a perfect fit and look! They are knowledgeable and have many tricks to make off the rack hats a perfect fit! I also have a custom dress hat from several years ago that they made for me which is my most complemented hat! Their shop is a must see and they are so popular that entry to the shop is by appointment only! Love them and so will you! read more

I brought my dads fedora here to be restored, and they did an outstanding job. The shop and everyone that works here are fantastic. read more

The Brass Rooster - 1950's fedora restoration - Accessories Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hats from the Vintage 125 collection are as good as they get. You also get good, personal service when your hat is good... but not yet great. Don't like the shape? Change it! A little too small? Change it! Thinking of changing the color of your trim? They have you covered! Prices for services such as cleaning are reasonable. Service is good. Women's side, The Hen House, is specifically for the ladies, though a woman in a fedora is formidable indeed. Behold two of my treasures made by the McLaughlin family! read more

The Brass Rooster - Blue hat made from vintage 1950s felt. - Accessories Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I really enjoyed my visit in my first hat shop. I could not believe the price range for all hats custom made. I do have to admit I was very impressed on how good I look in some hats. The majority of hats were rather small on my giant head. There were fedoras, top hats, hunter caps, cowboy hats, some hats made for pimps and lady bonnets next door, it is truly amazing how many choices to choose from. I would definitely come back to this store when I make more cash that is. The street parking was not that great since we only had to parallel park and pay a toll as well. read more

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I was recommended to go in by a friend in Chicago after complementing him on the hat he had on. I ended up stopping in on a whim and, man, am I glad I did. Sometimes you feel like people tell you something looks awesome on you just to get you to buy it, but I felt like the attention to detail on what I liked in a hat made it a very unique experience. All of the staff is very helpful but not overbearing and they only carry quality products. Check them out! read more

An amazing old school milliner. BUT since Covid started I have not been able to get anyone to actually speak with me. I have called Kate's cell, (which she gave me when I dropped off my hat a year ago and still haven't been able to pick up due to Covid) but every time I text them I get no response and when I private message them on Facebook I get an automated response 6 times out of 7. I'm afraid they sold my hat! Or maybe they went out of business. I'd understand under the circumstances but please just TELL me what is going on. So I drove 45 minutes to find out if they were okay. I was worried (their website said they were open that day). The windows were covered with brown paper and the front door was blocked from the inside. I am very frustrated and not sure if I'll ever see my hat again which I already paid $250 for. read more

Sometimes you drive past an interesting store (3 times) and think "One day I will just go inside and see what that store is all about." Then your wife suggests that you spend an afternoon exploring a new neighborhood. So, you know right where to go... Holy Moly! This is a custom Hat Manufacturing Shop! I mean they make 'em RIGHT HERE! Behind the counter is a work space with over 75 wooden head molds of various sizes. Take some time and look at the stock...because they have taken the time to present the stock in an appealing manner. All around you, hats adorn the shelves in various styles, colors, shapes and sizes. The staff begins by talking to you about why you want the hat, and how you will use it. They show you different styles and colors, letting you try them all on. If you select a hat that doesn't work for you, they will make suggestions about the best fitting hat style for your head. Once you select the hat, it is taken behind the counter for a shaping and or steaming. It is an experience. But isn't that the point? You are buying a stylish hat that you will wear for years. So you better get the one you really want. You should expect to pay a bit more for a hat of this quality. This is not some cheaply mass produced hat, that a buyer selected the style for 8 months ago. As I stood in the shop looking at all the different styles of hats I thought, "why do I waste my time in the department store trying on 6 different hats (among only 3 styles) trying to find one, in a size that fits?" So, I selected a good hat, that's stylish, functional and fun to wear. In a world where clothing gets more casual, the separation that makes a Man stand out in the crowd is in the accoutrements; socks, belts, watches, and yes, hats. Go take a look at the Brass Rooster. Experience what it means to be serviced in selecting a hat that is right for you. read more

The absolute nicest people on the face of the earth & a place to go outside of your comfort zone. I wear hats on the regular but went with one of their recommendations & never have I gotten so much positive unsolicited feedback from a hat in my life. Wide range of styles & pricepoints to suit anyone! Milwaukee Gem read more

Best people ever. World class store. If you knew, you'd know. Now, during Covid-19, Brass Rooster is a leader in responsible business. They're masks are perfect - super stylish, and the highest quality and most comfortable anywhere. read more

The customer service here is out of control. Kate, who works on the Hen House side of the store, is sweet as sugar, and was so helpful in finding me a hat for my bridal shower. Really cute hats and fascinators, but a small tip for brides to be- she also makes beautiful wedding hair pieces. Worth to check out for sure. Sh can even make something beautiful out of beads from grandmas wedding dress,etc. read more

A couple of years back I was watching the local news around Holiday shopping time and saw The Brass Rooster highlighted in one of the 'support local small businesses' segments. I was just starting to get into hats at the time and was fascinated to see the artists creating their custom work. I could see the selection to be fantabulous and I thought to myself, "Hmm, I've got to check this place out, if for nothing more than the fun of it!". I don't live near the Bay View neighborhood and rarely ever get over that way but The Brass Rooster had remained in my mind all this time. Well, my father's birthday was right around the corner and we wanted to get him something different... I mean, what does a 75 year old man really need from Home Depot?!! There ya go! Perfect excuse to go see how much KK Ave has changed! The BR has a really great location but you must keep your eyes open or you'll miss it. It's really cool that the exterior AND interior have retained the structural integrity (thus no big, ostentatious, lighted sign hanging off the building) of the neighborhood. We entered through the classic door.. had to close it manually, no hydraulics here, and were completely gobsmacked!! First, an adorable large dog laying on the floor lifted her head to greet us. Then, after petting her for a minute, we looked up and saw the wildest selection of headwear I've ever seen! One of my goals during this excursion was to learn how a hat should fit, properly. However, I immediately became distracted by the shapes, colors and styles of the items on display. There is every type of hat you can imagine and then some. I had to try everything... some just made us all laugh and others I'm going to have to return and purchase. The young ladies working there are absolutely incredible... honest, helpful, knowledgeable, personable and, this never hurts, easy on the eyes! They resemble friends, not salespeople, who won't steer you wrong! They took the time to converse with everybody who came in. They seemed to pick up on each individual's personality and style. It's rare in today's society to encounter service, and selection, like this! It is metered street parking bordering a residential area so I imagine finding a space can be difficult sometimes. Be aware, this is a specialty shop featuring high quality and custom made headwear with exceptional service/selection expect the cost to reflect this. BTW, we got my Dad a gift card, yes they offer them, and will be back to see them soon. And, please, for your own safety, NO BASEBALL CAPS!!!! read more

Amazing selection and knowledge! Attached to The Hen House next door so all styles are readily accessible. Highly recommend!

One of my favorite shops. Very friendly owners who are very knowledgable about hats. Fun to browse and look around. Good stock of hats for men, and women's hats at the hen house, which is attached next door. I have purchased a few hats here and finally had one custom-made. I look forward to opportunities to visit. They also do very good hat cleaning and repair work at reasonable rates. read more

Stopped in one day to check out the Vintage 125 collection. Next thing I knew, I had my head measured, got some expert input on style, and had ordered a custom hat. The customer service was amazing. When I picked it up, the owners seemed as excited or more so as I was. Now to contemplate the next one. Red I think. read more

The Brass Rooster, so aptly named. A new hat, a new paisley pocket square, and a fine new pen made me feel like the cock of the walk. If the details matter to you, then this is the place is heaven. The owners are knowlegeable, friendly, and really want to help you look your best. The Brass Rooster should be a MKE must visit. read more

The absolute best hat shop ever. Wow! Almost all I can say about the hat finds here. They are true milliners. We have been in shops around the world and will keep this shop at the top of our list to come back to. If you haven't checked it out and you love hats, plan a trip today! read more

We were looking last minute for a hat for a wedding. Kate was super helpful in navigating their selection of hats. We settled on a driving cap that *almost* fit, so Kate did some quick magic sewing free of charge that made it fit perfectly. Absolutely lovely store!! read more

I like these people. I like their hats. Another visit, another hat. Sure wish I lived close enough to get a very nice custom hat. For now, I wear my Stetson, my Panama and others purchased there. I want to play in the cabinet too. read more

I ordered some masks and gift cards from the fantastic people at the Brass Rooster Hat Company. I am beyond happy with the masks they produced! The double cloth masks are amazing. They have lots of different fabric patterns available too. Thank you for your dedication and hard work! read more

Walked in with my wife after buying a fascinator at the Hen House next door. We wanted a pocket square for her suit, specific color. The owner/operator went to the back and appeared with a perfect match, however unfinished. We walked out with the material *complimentary* as we needed it for the same day! What a class act! Not to mention the array of handmade hats, all high quality. Do it. Go. Now. read more

I starting wearing a fedora style hat a few years ago, but only found them at Cabelas and other generic stores. I bought a Dorfman Pacific felt hat that fit and apparently looked good due to the compliments I receive while wearing it. It didn't have a satin liner to it and when I wore it, it did funky things to my hair. I like wearing it but no-one offers liners even online. My wife saw a profile on the local news and suggested we try it. We drove up from Racine after calling John and confirming he could help me. Even though my hat was not nearly the quality of his or the inventory he carries; he treated me as if I was a returning customer with his product and installed a liner, cleaned and reshaped my hat. It was a pleasure talking with him and learning his story of becoming a Master Hat Maker. The service I received was truly outstanding and wish it was more common among other retailers. Thank you John for helping me and being a Professional whose pride in workmanship shows in even the little tasks. I will be back for the Black Fedora or perhaps a custom hat. Merry Christmas to you and your family. read more

Brass Rooster is one of the coolest shops in Milwaukee. I have purchased multiple hats here for my dad, son and myself. John is incredibly talented, knowledgeable and as friendly as they come. Everyone should stop into Brass Rooster whether you wear a hat daily or have never worn anything other than a baseball cap. read more