Hats off to “Hat Man”!
“Hat Man”, A/K/A Ron Kneram, is providing a valuable service to the residents of Milton and horizons far beyond by providing, in abundant variety and affordable prices, essential tools most necessary to achieve the quality of life that most people long for.
And the selections are almost endless. From Westerns to Romance, Murder to Mayhem, and science fiction to Fantasy, you’ll find it on the shelves at Hat Man Books where one of the most extensive collections of used books anywhere in the area awaits your inspection and selection.
Hat Man Books is located at 5406 Dogwood Drive in Milton, situated in the middle of the mini-shopping center at the corner of Dogwood Drive and Park Avenue, with the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center in the background. And it’s unique, not only in its name but in what it has to offer the public.
It’s one of the friendliest places in town, too. “Hello, I’m Ron Kneram, and I run Hat Man Books,” is how you might make Ron’s acquaintance outside the store, but once inside you’ll find him to be even more courteous, helpful, and hospitable than ever. And if you don’t feel quite “at home” immediately, you will once you sink into one of his comfortable chairs with a complimentary cup of coffee and start discussing books or maybe some other topic of local interest with him.
“Books, books, books! Here I am surrounded by books, and I love it,” he’ll be quick to tell you. “Reading fosters a great education, and provides an escape, adventure, or just a nice pastime for young and old alike,” he says.
And books galore is no exaggeration. Since the store opened the last week in January of this year, thousands upon thousands of books of both hard and soft covers have accumulated on the shelves where those of almost all genre are grouped by type, from mystery to adventure to men’s issues, and so on with authors that include Nora Roberts, Jeffery Deaver, James Paterson, WEB Griffin, Louis L’amour, Jean Auel, and hundreds of others.
In fact Ron or Hat Man, as he is often called, says he doubts that you’ll leave the store without the book you are looking for. That’s how extensive the collection is. You shouldn’t let the name confuse you, ether. He’ll answer to both. He inherited the name from one of his son’s friends who one day inquired about what his friend’s father did. “He works making hats and shirts,” his son answered, explaining that the work actually involved transferring names, emblems, and other icons to the merchandise.
“Oh,” his son’s friend replied. “He’s the Hat Man!” And somehow the “handle” stuck, and that’s why he’s been known as the Hat Man ever since. The career has lingered, too, and now that he’s retired and begun a new one, he continues to do custom designs on ball caps, shirts, jackets, and even on coffee mugs. When you visit the store, don’t forget to ask to see examples of some of the work he does. You will be pleasantly surprised at its professionalism and the expert workmanship that makes the finished product so attractive.
Another feature that Hat Man Books has going for it is its offering in affordability. “Books are priced at 50% off original prices” Ron says, “and we give a generous trade-in on your older books in good condition.” First-time customers are entitled to a One Book Buck (equivalent to a dollar) on their next purchase.
Ron and his wife Janet consider themselves “transplanted Yankees” who came to town some 16 years ago from a region in up-state New York. And after you hold a conversation with him to any extent, you will discover how he has become so excellently “tuned” to the area. He knows and understands its culture and its politics, and he doesn’t mind sharing his views.
His wife Janet has her own career but comes to the store with him each Saturday to “help out”. “And there’s always plenty to do,” he said.
Hat Man Books is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and has a great deal to offer anyone who is looking for a book, whether it’s subject related or just plain recreation. Call if you like. The number is (850) 623-3478
“Please come and visit,” Ron or Hat Man ( whichever you prefer) invites. “Sit, have a complementary cup of coffee and browse our selections. We’ll be looking for you soon!”
<a href="http://www.srpressgazette.com/news/help-10818-books-horizons.htmltag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.srpressgazette.com/news/help-10818-books-horizons.htmlTue, 27 Jul 2010 20:12:34 GMT 00:00″>Hat Man Books furnishes tools to help expand your horizons
Tags: Abundant Variety, Books Books Books, Comfortable Chairs, Complimentary Cup, Cup Of Coffee, Dogwood Drive, essential tools, Exaggeration, great education, Horizons, Jeffery Deaver, Nora Roberts, Park Avenue, Pastime, Paters, Science Fiction, Valuable Service, web griffin, Week In January, Westerns, Winn Dixie Shopping Center
