909-911 Houston Street, Peters Bros., Inc. – Hatters, 1917. Brothers Tom and Jim Peters came to Fort Worth from Greece, by way of Nashville, Tennessee and Waco, Texas, in 1911. The two men opened a shoe shine parlor and, prospering, moved into this building in 1917. Early business enterprises also included shoe repair as well as the now-famous hats. Peter Bros. developed and manufactured the world-famous “Shady Oaks” hat for Amon Carter, Sr., a trademark gift that was given to presidents and visiting dignitaries. The store is a simple two-story brick structure, typical of many small commercial buildings of the period. Its distinctive character is due primarily to the delightful neon sign, probably dating from the 1940s, depicting a variety of Peters Bros. hats.
