The Mad Hatter is a hat shop located on Main Street in North Carolina’s Fuquay-Varina. The tiny hat shop seeks to be both a throwback to simpler times, and an ode to whimsy. This spring the shop is preparing to meet the needs of the Kentucky Derby crowd whose love of large hats makes them seek specialty shops like that of the Mad Hatter.

Kentucky Derby Week kicks off in style on April 30th, 2016 at Churchill Downs. The horse racing season is kicked off by the Kentucky Derby Opening Day Party. The evening event is signified as much by champagne and stylish hats as it is the horse racing. Large hats, small hats, top hats, hats with feathers—the bigger the hat, the better. People come from all over the world to kick off the Derby and to be seen. Hat shops all over the country see their business jump every year at this time as people search for the biggest and best hat to wear. Fuquay-Varina favorite, the Mad Hatter goes crazy in preparation for the Derby, claiming the special occasion makes them anything but mad.

“Our shop is all about hats, high tea, and just anything and everything that throws back to simpler times,” says owner, Bobbie Asad. “We love events like the Kentucky Derby because it’s an occasion to be formal; to get a little dressy. When customers come in to say they need a hat for the Derby—or even church it makes what we do worthwhile.”

This tiny shop on Main Street offers a wide selection of hats in all colors, styles, and sizes, as well as, a collection of other delicate and ethereal items. The shop sells loose leaf teas, tea sets, locally made hand lotions and soaps, specialty food items, and other assorted gifts. The owners want to bring a bit of the Old World to the new and provide the type of experience one might get while visiting Downton Abbey.

The Mad Hatter is currently stocking its shelves with more locally made items and, of course, hats. They want all their area customers to know if it’s a Derby hat they’re looking for they will find it at Mad Hatter.