Hats Plus employee Shawn hangs up the first straw hats of spring.

Us northern Midwesterners have had a rough go of it for the past month or so. Blizzard, Arctic temperatures, another blizzard, and now a week of steady snow. We look for signs that winter will end. There’s our groundhog Woodstock Willie. There’s spring training. There’s Shamrock Shakes at a certain fast-food chain. And here at Hats Plus we’re doing our part to remind folks that spring is just around the corner by transitioning the store to our spring and summer supply of straw hats!

Those green shoots are really straw Panamas.

Since the first of the month our customers have begun a louder and louder drumbeat. “You, guys, have any straw hats, yet?” “I need a Panama for my daughter’s wedding in May.” “I gotta do something to forget about the winter for 10 minutes; where do you keep the straw hats?”

Spring must be just around the corner because now our straw hats are starting to come out on display.

Plus, this summer’s newest models of straw hats and caps are starting to arrive. Check in soon for an update about these shady, cool summer hats.

In the meantime, hang in there. We’ve got less than a month to go before the calendar says it is spring!