If you’ve lived in or visited the Valley for any length of time, chances are you’ve heard of, seen, or gone into a Saba’s Western Wear Store. Saba’s is known for quality hats, custom boot fitting, and Western clothing for men, women, and kids. The Saba family has continually owned and operated its stores in the Valley for almost 90 years.
Family patriarch and company founder David Saba, Sr. originally hailed from Lebanon. In 1913, he came to America with no money and no knowledge of English. Saba lived and worked in northern California before eventually settling in Chandler to do business. He operated grocery and general stores. He also sold merchandise on the road, delivering goods to workers in the area cotton fields. In 1923, he married Adele Tibshraeny, from another well-known East Valley family. In 1927, they opened the first Saba’s store in what is now downtown Chandler. The couple also had seven children, who stayed involved in the family business over the years.
When the Saba’s opened their first store, customers rode up on horses, cattle drives often had the right-of-way, and coyotes howled at night.
After World War II, people began to discover Scottsdale, and the first Scottsdale Saba’s store opened in 1947 at Brown and Main streets, an area now called Old Town Scottsdale. At the time, there were no banks in Scottsdale, so the family would drive over to Mesa to make deposits. Today, Saba’s operates 7 stores throughout the Valley and continues to achieve success. Saba’s Western Wear also offers online sales from its website, www.sabas.com. Today, the stores are still owned and operated by the Saba family.
