The fresh smell of leather as soon as you walk into the store is something that store employee, Patty, has already gotten used to. Only after a few months of working at Toler’s Leather Depot, her sense of smell for the leather has become desensitized. However, her love for the job has not.

A store that has been in business for over thirty years sees a lot of foot traffic come through looking for their leather needs. Fortunately, when locals want some place to take their out-of-town guests, this is one of the stores they can bring them to, since it’s open 364 days of the year and it provides a sense of history that’s abundant in the Old Town area. Patty says, “When locals bring their friends for souvenirs, they usually find something they like as well.”

Because it is a specialty shop, it makes for a fun visit for anyone, local or tourist. They carry items not seen at your everyday store, such as Confederate and Union hats often bought by those participating in reenactments. They will custom fit belts, putting the holes where you want them, and they have mounted on one of the walls a jack-a-lope.

The décor, the leather smell and the friendliness of staff make this store, like so many in Old Town, a true shopping experience.