Olé Puerto Rico

Olé Puerto Rico is a small hat shop on Fortaleza Street in Old San Juan that has been in business since 1977. The store specializes in Panama hats, which are traditionally woven in Ecuador using toquilla straw. There are several styles to choose from, including short- and long-brim fedoras, Borsalino hats, Paso Fino, Boater or Pra-prá, and the wide-brimmed Pamela. What makes the shop different from a typical souvenir store is the fitting process. Customers can try on different styles, get help finding the right size, and choose colorful bands and other details to personalize their hats. Olé originally sold artwork and antiques before shifting its focus to hats. The shop still has an old-fashioned look, with shelves full of hats and accessories. It also sells selected styles online for customers who can't visit Old San Juan.