There are some places that are so different from downtown Toronto that you feel like you've travelled to another world. This weekend, I found one of those places when I stopped in at Herbert's Boots & Western Wear in Alliston, Ontario.
The store has been part of downtown Alliston since 1958 and is famous for its huge selection of western boots, hats, and clothing.
The moment I walked through the door, I knew this wasn't your average shoe store.
A Wall of Cowboy Boots
The first thing that caught my eye was the endless rows of cowboy boots.
Not ten pairs.
Not fifty pairs.
Hundreds.
Maybe thousands.
Every colour, every style, every shape of toe imaginable. Looking down one aisle felt like looking down a western boot highway. If you couldn't find a pair of boots here, you probably weren't looking hard enough.
As a photographer, I immediately saw patterns, textures, and colours everywhere. The rows of leather made for great photographs.
The Hat Department
Then I wandered over to the hats.
Again, the selection was unbelievable.
Cowboy hats stacked from floor to ceiling. White hats, black hats, straw hats, felt hats—enough hats to outfit an entire rodeo.
I briefly considered trying one on and seeing if I could pass as a ranch hand from Alberta.
The problem is that after years of carrying cameras around Toronto, I probably look more like a wandering street photographer than a cowboy.
The Hidden Workshop
My favourite part of the visit wasn't actually the boots.
It was the repair shop.
Tucked away behind the retail area were old industrial machines that looked like they belonged in a museum. Massive sewing machines, leather-working equipment, tools, polishes, and work benches filled with the signs of real craftsmanship.
In an age where people often throw things away, it was refreshing to see a place where boots are repaired and given a second life.
The machinery had character. You could almost imagine how many boots had passed through those machines over the decades.
As someone who still happily uses a 10-year-old Sony camera, I appreciate equipment that keeps working long after everyone thinks it should have been replaced.
A Photographer's Dream
Most people probably visit a western store to buy boots.
I visited to take pictures.
The rows of leather, the vintage machinery, the stacks of hats, and the small details around the workshop all told a story.
That's one of the things I enjoy about travelling around Ontario. You never know what you'll find. One day you're photographing skyscrapers on Bay Street. The next day you're standing in a western boot store in Alliston photographing machines that have probably been working longer than some photographers have been alive.
Final Thoughts
The visit reminded me why I enjoy exploring small-town Ontario.
Places like Alliston still have businesses with history, personality, and stories to tell. The boots, hats, and workshop weren't just merchandise—they were part of a tradition that has been serving customers for generations.
And let's be honest...
If there was ever a camera club category for "Most Cowboy Boots Photographed in One Afternoon," I think Bob would finally have another award-winning entry.
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