‘Breaking Bad’ star spotted at iconic San Antonio hat shop

Famed actor Giancarlo Esposito swung by Paris Hatters on Friday, June 12, while in the Alamo City for an appearance at SpaceCon, which runs from Friday through Sunday, June 14, at the Freeman Coliseum. Esposito is in town all weekend and will be at the convention all three days for autographs and photo-ops, according to SpaceCon’s website. However, it seems he made time for himself on a busy schedule. 

According to store manager Alex Sledge, Esposito “was so nice, and really funny too.” Sledge told MySA via direct message that the actor bought a black fur felt Stetson Stratoliner fedora, a black straw Dobbs fedora and a speckled brown mix straw Stetson fedora.

“He had mentioned that he had been in [San Antonio] before and had seen our tower sign and had always wanted to stop by. Luckily today he had some time to shop while in town for SpaceCon!” Sledge said. She also noted that Esposito stopped to take a photo with her and her infant son as well as with one of the store’s hatters. 

At 109 years old, Paris Hatters is one of the oldest businesses in San Antonio. Run by the third and fourth generations of the Cortez family, it even predates the River Walk. That’s what makes it a staple of downtown and a common bullet point on the itinerary for visiting celebrities. Paris Hatters’ website lists stars like Johnny Cash and wife June Carter Cash, Merle Haggard, B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and many others among the visitors.

In March, Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant popped in before playing a show at the Majestic Theatre. Most recently, fellow actor John Turturro (known for his roles in Severance and O Brother, where art thou?) came in while he was in San Antonio to cheer on the New York Knicks.