Kemo Sabe wants ‘more of a community’ with locals’ weekend event

Since Tom and Nancy Yoder opened the first ever Kemo Sabe store in Aspen, the company’s mantra has been “make everyone feel important.” 

But, over the decades, the flagship shop might have appeared to cater primarily to the big-name celebrity and well-off tourist culture with its hand-made hats that blend beaver and rabbit felt with hand-molded cowboy and softened flat-brimmed styles.

This weekend, however, the locals’ event is proving that locals matter to Kemo Sabe just as much as its more affluent and visiting clientele.

Lindsay Benninger, Kemo Sabe’s vice president who oversees the Aspen and Vail regions, is a driving force behind making locals feel welcomed and appreciated with this event.

“We want it to be more focused for our friends and neighbors,” Benninger said. “Come and hang out, shop, see some great deals. We want more of a community in Aspen.” 

Discounts will range from 20% to 50% off on items including hats, boots, accessories, and more, according to Benninger. There will also be music, complimentary cocktails, and a special sneak preview of a new peak season amenity to celebrate the hard work those in town put in over the winter. 

Aspen Kemo Sabe Bar and Events Manager Kristi LaBauve emphasized that everyone will be carded at the door, with wrist bands given to those over 21. The featured cocktail will be Kemo Sabe’s signature margarita, while beers and seltzers will be on hand.

“Obviously, we want to make it super special because it’s locals’ weekend,” LaBauve said. “We want to make them feel like the VVIPs.”

Benninger hopes this will give locals the opportunity to share in the Kemo Sabe experience that can sometimes seem a bit out of reach. 

“We want it to be special,” she said. “Everyone has worked so hard in this entire town over the peak season that we want to give back a little.”

This isn’t the first time that Aspen’s Kemo Sabe has celebrated its locals. This weekend marks the third locals’ sale event that the store has put on; while the first two focused on selling the iconic hats. This event is more so looking to provide the custom decorations for those hats, as well as custom-designed, hand-made boots in a large variety of sizes.

The event runs Friday, May 2, through Sunday, May 4, during store hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be live DJ music from 2-4 p.m. each of the three days, with DJ Naka G playing on Friday and Sunday and DJ Double Wide playing on Saturday.

“I always like playing at Kemo Sabe,” DJ Naka G said. “It’s unlike any other place that I play. It’s a unique experience. (Kemo Sabe) does take care of the locals … during off-season people can take advantage of something they might not be able to take advantage of during peak season.”

Locals won’t just have access to the main store’s space. Benninger confirmed that Kemo Sabe will be opening its private event space to the public this weekend for everyone to enjoy. There will also be a surprise out front, something that will be officially introduced starting this summer season.

“​​We have a line most of the time, so we want to have a little bit of a specialty for people who are willing to wait,” she explained. “This sneak preview is just something special for our locals’ event.”

Kemo Sabe will remain open throughout the off-season. While markdowns are available company-wide most of May, she emphasized that the push for the Aspen locals’ event this weekend is to continue to foster that community that she sees as an integral part of the brand and the brand’s home base. 

“I want people to come here and have a great time and have the experience we’re known for,” Benninger said. “We want our locals to have that same experience.”