I Tip My Hat To Henry
- Frank A. Fiorello
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Frank A. Fiorello | Apr 8, 2026
Founded in 1893 by Henry Komrofsky, a native of Detroit, Henry the Hatter initially opened its doors on Gratiot Ave. Before starting his own business, Komrofsky spent several years working as a hatter at the John C. Hartz store. As an entrepreneur, he had a keen interest in various facets of city life.
Following in his father's footsteps, who was both a musician and a teacher, Komrofsky played the drums in a band at the Temple Theater. He also served on the Detroit School’s Board of Education and held the position of Boxing Commissioner. According to
Henry the Hatter Detroit website.
“Sell the same hat to six people, and no two will wear it in quite the same way. A hat is a personal statement,” says Paul Wasserman. Paul is the proprietor of Henry the Hatter, a legendary hat shop in Detroit, founded in 1893 and acknowledged as the oldest hat retailer in the United States. Therefore, he certainly has the expertise.
Henry the Hatter has been catering to the people of Detroit since 1893, offering a diverse range of hats and caps. The retail shop, currently situated in Eastern Market, has endured numerous challenges including the Great Depression, the Great Recession, the 1967 Detroit riot, and two pandemics since its inception.
Detroit’s renowned hat shop relocated to Eastern Market approximately seven years ago, after spending 65 years at 1307 Broadway Street. Henry Komrofsky established Henry the Hatter on Gratiot Avenue in 1893. The business later moved to the Library Park Hotel Building situated at the intersection of Gratiot Avenue and Library Street. In 1923, the hat retail company expanded with a new location on Michigan Avenue. The Gratiot Avenue store was eventually demolished, and Henry the Hatter had to move once again. In 1952, the retail store moved to a space on Broadway Street in Detroit.
By the late 1940s, Henry the Hatter was offered for sale, and in 1948, Seymour Wasserman, a gentleman from New York, acquired the company. Sy Wasserman, as he was known was a veteran of WWII who cleverly avoided combat by editing the army newspaper and cultivating tomatoes in New Guinea, found his way into the hat industry through an unexpected path.
According to the tale, Sy’s uncle owned a hat factory in Allentown, PA. There was a hat shop named Brody’s located on the Upper East Side of New York, which was deeply in debt to the factory. In a mutual agreement between the factory and the shop, Sy’s uncle proposed that if Sy settled the debt, he would take ownership of the store. Sy’s shop on the Upper East Side was a small player in a vast market. Eager to grow – but with no options in New York, Sy learned of a chance in Detroit.
Henry the Hatter, celebrates its 132nd anniversary this year with Joe Renkiewicz from Detroit leading the way. Renkiewicz, who has recently taken over the business from longtime owner Paul Wasserman, Sy’s son, approaches the transition with great seriousness.
Many locals are aware of notable figures such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, Run DMC, LL Cool J, and Steve Harvey have all visited Henry the Hatter in search of a high quality hat. Whether it's located downtown or in the Eastern Market, Henry the Hatter remains committed to providing timeless quality.
In the 1950s, Henry the Hatter stated that they experienced a significant boos after former President Dwight Eisenhower donned a hat from their Detroit company during his inauguration. Eisenhower chose to wear a Homburg, which deviated from the customary top hat. The Homburg is recognized as a semi-formal hat featuring a single dent that runs down its center.
"Some people attempt to attribute the decrease in hat-wearing to President John F. Kennedy, who opted not to wear a hat at his inauguration in the early '60s. However, Wasserman pointed out that it was the changing times, rather than the individual, that led to the decline in hat-wearing," the company mentioned this on its website.
Henry’s celebrity clientele has featured a variety of notable figures, including congressmen, mayors, judges, athletes, musicians, actors, and entertainers from all walks of life. For instance, John Dingell, Carl Levin, Dennis Archer, and Coleman Young. The actor Jeff Daniels is known to drop by; Kid Rock has been a customer for 20 years, shopping here long before he became famous. Additionally, five years ago, they collaborated with Hank Williams Jr., a personal favorite of your humble correspondent, on a project for an album he was creating as a tribute to his father, and he requested a custom-made Stetson similar to the one his dad used to wear.
If only walls could speak, the glass-cased, hat-lined, and mirrored interiors of Henry the Hatter would surely have plenty of stories to tell. Henry the Hatter has gained recognition throughout the years for its enduring presence and distinctiveness as a business. The Historical Society of Michigan awarded them a plaque in honor of their service spanning over a century.
I recall stepping into Henry the Hatter's shop on Broadway with my dad when I was a child. It was an unforgettable store, filled with a scent, appearance, and atmosphere that transported you to another era. An era where men were distinguished and dressed impeccably every day, always topping off their Sunday best with a stylish hat.
Years later, in my early twenties, I returned to that Broadway location, and it was different from what I had remembered in my youthful enthusiasm. However, it still held the same nostalgic charm, and I ended up buying my first black wide-brimmed fedora for a funeral. As I placed that hat on my head, I truly felt wiser, more self-assured, and even standing taller, just as I had read more recently Renkiewicz had said in the Metro Times.
So, what I have left to say is this: if you're in the market for a quality hat, a fashionable hat, a hat that will last for years, be sure to visit Henry the Hatter—you won't regret it. This is your humble correspondent signing off, tipping my hat to Henry Komrofsky, Sy and Paul Wasserman, and Joe Renkiewicz for sustaining a wonderful business that remains vibrant and exceptional as always.
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