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Kemo Sabe

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 Vail, 81657

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About

Kemo Sabe sells high-end western wear on Bridge Street: cowboy hats, boots, belts and buckles, silver and leather. The company started in 1990 in a 400-square-foot shop in Snowmass Village, and Vail, which opened in 2004, was its second store. There are now seven, from Colorado to Montana and Texas.

It is the place for a first proper cowboy hat, a pair of boots or a hand-engraved buckle, and for a gift with some story to it. Prices sit at the top of the western market, so come ready to spend rather than to browse for bargains.

Hats and boots of its own

Much of the stock carries the house label. The distressed Kemo Sabe Grit hats began in the Aspen store in 1995 and are now produced at the company's own hat facility in Gainesville, Texas. Since 2021 Kemo Sabe has also made Grit boots through a boot company it bought in El Paso. Custom hats, handcrafted boots, heirloom silver and rare leathers are all part of the offer.

How the shop works

There are no reservations or appointments: you walk in and one of the staff, whom Kemo Sabe calls Sales Wranglers, works through the choices with you. The company's motto, "Make Everyone Feel Important", dates from 1990 and still shapes how it describes its service. Since 2020 it has been owned by Wendy Kunkle, Bobby Kunkle, Lisa Kunkle and Andrew Wilson.

Trunk shows and private events

Kemo Sabe runs weekend trunk shows at its stores, Vail included, with knives, estate jewelry and hand-engraved buckles brought in for the occasion. It also hosts private events around a VIP bar for birthdays, bachelorette parties, wedding welcome parties and team outings; ask the events team which bar space the Vail store offers.

Before you buy

Returns are accepted within 30 days on unworn items in original condition, but not on anything that has been branded or bought on sale. Gift cards are sold by phone or in store.

Sources: about Kemo Sabe, FAQ, events, trunk shows. Checked September 23, 2026.

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Company Name
Kemo Sabe
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Location
227 Bridge St
Vail, 81657

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About Kemo Sabe

Quick answer: Kemo Sabe is a business at 227 Bridge St, Vail, CO 81657. Kemo Sabe on Bridge Street sells high-end cowboy hats, boots, buckles and silver, including its own Grit hats and boots. In Vail since 2004.

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Kemo Sabe sells high-end western wear on Bridge Street: cowboy hats, boots, belts and buckles, silver and leather. The company started in 1990 in a 400-square-foot shop in Snowmass Village, and Vail, which opened in 2004, was its second store. There are now seven, from Colorado to Montana and Texas.

It is the place for a first proper cowboy hat, a pair of boots or a hand-engraved buckle, and for a gift with some story to it. Prices sit at the top of the western market, so come ready to spend rather than to browse for bargains.

Hats and boots of its own

Much of the stock carries the house label. The distressed Kemo Sabe Grit hats began in the Aspen store in 1995 and are now produced at the company's own hat facility in Gainesville, Texas. Since 2021 Kemo Sabe has also made Grit boots through a boot company it bought in El Paso. Custom hats, handcrafted boots, heirloom silver and rare leathers are all part of the offer.

How the shop works

There are no reservations or appointments: you walk in and one of the staff, whom Kemo Sabe calls Sales Wranglers, works through the choices with you. The company's motto, "Make Everyone Feel Important", dates from 1990 and still shapes how it describes its service. Since 2020 it has been owned by Wendy Kunkle, Bobby Kunkle, Lisa Kunkle and Andrew Wilson.

Trunk shows and private events

Kemo Sabe runs weekend trunk shows at its stores, Vail included, with knives, estate jewelry and hand-engraved buckles brought in for the occasion. It also hosts private events around a VIP bar for birthdays, bachelorette parties, wedding welcome parties and team outings; ask the events team which bar space the Vail store offers.

Before you buy

Returns are accepted within 30 days on unworn items in original condition, but not on anything that has been branded or bought on sale. Gift cards are sold by phone or in store.

Sources: about Kemo Sabe, FAQ, events, trunk shows. Checked September 23, 2026.

Accessories Shoe Stores Hats shopping shopping/womens-fashion shopping/mens-fashion shopping/footwear shopping/vail-village
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Business Hours

Open daily · 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kemo Sabe in Vail?
At 227 Bridge Street in Vail Village.
What are the hours?
Kemo Sabe does not publish Vail store hours on its website.
How much is it to make a hat at Kemo Sabe?
There is no single price: each Grit hat is designed one-on-one with a Sales Wrangler, and the cost follows the felt (beaver and rabbit felt, handmade at the Grit Hat Ranch in Gainesville, Texas) and the custom work chosen. Kemo Sabe presents itself as high-end western wear and lists current prices per hat on kemosabe.com; expect a premium, heirloom purchase rather than a souvenir hat.
Why is Kemo Sabe so expensive?
The price is the making: hats are handmade in the USA by a century-old process, boots are hand-crafted through about 150 steps, and buckles are hand-engraved by in-house silversmiths. Owners also get a complimentary clean, steam and reshape for their hat at any Kemo Sabe location.
Where did Kemo Sabe start?
In a 400-square-foot shop in Snowmass Village in 1990, opened by Tom and Nancy Yoder. Vail, opened in 2004, was the second store; there are now seven across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Texas and Montana.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Kemo Sabe accepts no reservations or appointments for shopping; walk in and a Sales Wrangler will work with you. Appointments exist only for private events.
What is Kemo Sabe Grit?
The house label. Grit hats, distressed felt hats first made in Aspen in 1995, are now produced at the company's hat ranch in Gainesville, Texas (via Basalt, Colorado, 2015-2019). Grit boots have been made through the company's own El Paso boot company since 2021, and Grit buckles are hand-engraved in-house.
Can Kemo Sabe host a private party in Vail?
Yes. Vail is one of the event locations on kemosabe.com; parties are built around the store's VIP bar for birthdays, bachelorette parties, wedding welcome parties and corporate groups. Email [email protected] or use the events form for pricing and availability.
What is the return policy?
Unworn items in original condition, not branded, within 30 days; sale items are final sale. Online orders can also be returned in store; ask a Sales Wrangler.
Does Kemo Sabe sell gift cards?
Yes, by phone at (970) 925-7878 (the chain's central line, not the Vail store number) or in store; to spend one online you order by phone.

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