Our Legacy, Humble Central Avenue Origin

1920, Max Freed set up his storefront on Central Avenue in downtown Albuquerque.
Fortune smiled upon Max as word of his quality merchandise spread. Max's impeccably tanned cowhides attracted folks from far and wide. Customers and merchants handcrafted the quality hides into chaps, belts and other rugged clothing suitable for western life in the 1920s. Wild rags were popular among cowboys and travelers, and served as a natural insulator from the western sun and heat.

Max's popularity grew when, in 1926, the great "Mother Road" Route 66, one of the most celebrated roads in U.S. history paved it's way through Albuquerque. Route 66 spanned Chicago through Los Angeles. It was created with the intention of being "America's Highway," a thoroughfare connecting the main streets of rural and urban communities along its 2400 mile path. More folks traveled to Max's Central Avenue shop from every state in the nation.

2001, 81 years since the founding of the original downtown storefront, a new route is created on the World Wide Web. Hidesonline, the mail-order division of the David Freed Company, is proud to carry on our founder's Southwest tradition, serving the public with quality merchandise — cowhides, sheepskins, feedsacks, wild rags and old-fashioned personalized customer service. We ship directly to your home or ranch and your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Call in your order today!

Please visit the Albuquerque Museum for more information on the history of Albuquerque, and a photo-archive of the time.