New to Salem Street in Boston’s North End is the William Carlton Workshop, a new haberdashery and millinery making vintage mens’ caps and leather goods by hand. Founder Steve Finch said they were looking to open in an “authentic” neighborhood which naturally brought them to the North End. Finch named the shop after his grandfather, William Carlton.
The store looks like it was frozen in time from a century ago with antique Singer sewing machines and period pieces in a narrow workshop where the hats are hand sewn. The location at 148A Salem Street was formerly occupied by Whaddya Need and various retail shops before that.
Finch and associates, Max Levy and Dave Jameson, take custom fit measurements and fill all of the orders themselves. In addition to custom caps, the crew makes and restores leather goods, such as purses and wallets. Down the road, they have plans to expand the product line to other workwear categories, such as American-made boots, belts and jeans.
William Carlton Workshop welcomes neighbors to stop in and say hello. Look for Bentley, their friendly Bernese Mountain Dog. Find the William Carlton Workshop on Facebook.
This shop exudes a timeless charm. It’s a representation of the good old days. Love the items, the smell of leather, and the interesting items Steve displays. Sitting with Bentley is a bonus!