In my opinion one of the best things about enjoying a fine cigar is the experience. In college we had a great local shop that had a real laid back environment, game tables and, in addition to a great selection of cigars, a full bar. The guys who ran the place were great. What are some of the things you all enjoy most about your favorite shop?

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When I die I want you to spread my ashes...but make sure you smoke me down to the nub first. Smoky the Bear

My place has monthly or bi-monthly events, sells a few exclusives, has a hand-roller come in every other week from a great brand, has huge leather chairs, a big screen TV, and has a BYOB policy, and an outdoor grill. All of this is overshadowed by the community, which lives up to the motto the cigar store was given: Come as strangers, leave as friends.

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Ubi Cigar

I love my little B&M. In CA you cant really get around the high prices but the owner(Pops) offsets it with stellar service! Lots of plush couches, 3 big plasma screens, superb selection, byob is in effect, they offer a military discount and once youve been going there for a while and he sees what you like he'll occasionally throw in a freebie based on his reccommendations. Cool little spot. Also has a bunch of events with free food, discount beer and 1/2 off the featured cigar.

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It's Beer! Hooray Beer!

The shop near where I live is good if you want a time to relax and just have a few drinks (most of which are on special if you buy a cigar) but the selection is that of what I thought was good when I started smoking, now it's just full of "Cuba Cuba" and seconds with a shelf of dusty graycliffs (read expensive)

The place is really nice and upscale but if they had a better selection it would be a favorite hang out


NOW... the place near where I work is the best one in Wisconsin and has all the good stuff, the exclusives, an owner that knows his shtuff and they have an extensive line of gurkha and davidoff as well as the same amenities as the previously mentioned shop but with micro-brews on tap and really nice accessories on sale (read I've never seen a dupont lighter until this place) and they have monthly if not more events and they have allot of pull with the big guys of cigars (I've seen some big wigs from Drew Estates, I've met Rocky Patel and others and one of the stops on the Cigar Aficionado golf and cigars trip last year was at this shop!!!)

I love going in and just asking one simple question... "WHAT'S NEW!"

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Who Farted?

I have two and they both stink. One was okay for talk, but he closed recently due to some health issues and opened up a small shop where you can just purchase, no sitting. The other is a nice shop with drinks and some munchies. The problem is that cigarette smokers have taken over and most of them are the retired guys that sit there all day. If you go and sit with some friends, they take over your conversation yelling the whole time and make you feel that you're invading their space. The owner doesn't have the zigs to tell them to get out even though they don't spend a nickle in there. I would love to open my own. Tim, Alex, Staff!! Any suggestions? Let's do this.

Only 1 place in St. Petersberg, and isn't a good place. The selection is terrible, and all their hand-rolled/house cigars are overpriced (they start at $8/stick) - the couches are plush, but not enough tv's and the owner doesn't seem to carry any cigars I like (no nubs, Oliva's, Verdaderos, only a few Ashtons, etc) - mostly just maduro's and other high-end cigars that go for $12/stick that I can't afford (even then, they don't have any Cohiba's). They charge too much for beer too - no way I'm paying $4 for a bottle of Coors

So yeah, I get everything online >_>

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Question, challenge, and always keep a fresh battery in your bullshit detector

I have a couple very small shops around me, they close early and aren't too stocked, but nice service. The large shop is about 20 or so minutes away from me, and though they have a big selection they are more expensive than online which is common but they also seem to not get the new cigars in or the harder to find cigars. At times I'm surprised as they do get some goodies in. I just don't make it down there enough. There's a some-what finished cigar bar, has some plush couches and tables with a big screen tv but the bar is barely stocked and no beer/wine/or hard stuff. The service there sucks as the staff is always in the cigar shop. I'm not sure if there isn't enough money to finish the bar or staff it but it is a real drag. It's better than nothing, and it's the only one around so it's not bad. I'd be there more if I lived closer, I just don't see the point to drive all the way there, spend 2 hours then drive back. I go there if I'm in the area.

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xmacro:

Only 1 place in St. Petersberg, and isn't a good place. The selection is terrible, and all their hand-rolled/house cigars are overpriced (they start at $8/stick) - the couches are plush, but not enough tv's and the owner doesn't seem to carry any cigars I like (no nubs, Oliva's, Verdaderos, only a few Ashtons, etc) - mostly just maduro's and other high-end cigars that go for $12/stick that I can't afford (even then, they don't have any Cohiba's). They charge too much for beer too - no way I'm paying $4 for a bottle of Coors

So yeah, I get everything online >_>

No Cohibas? Thats blasphemy! I've only been to one shop at home. The staff seems to be very knowledgeable, decent selection, a few leather chairs, and a bunch of old guys that hang out there. By the way, they cary Cohibas.

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"If life was fair, ELVIS would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead." Johnny Carson

The shop that I go to is cool, great selection, owners are really knowledgeable and you can just sit and shoot the breeze with pretty much anyone. There's a cigar bar on the other side of town, sorta got a weird vibe from it and a guy I herfed with last week confirmed my suspicion that the owner of it was a douche. But, I like the shop that I go to, every is laid back and even if the other guy dropped prices by a ton, I still wouldn't go there because I wouldn't get treated nearly as well there. Just goes to show you, customer service goes a whole lot farther than anything else.

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brsmith21:

I've heard the first step is admitting that you have a problem. Thankfully, I don't have a problem. I'll just smoke more.

My local shop is great! They always have big events with some of the biggest names in the cigar world, they have a nice lounge with big leather chairs, big flat panel TVs, BYOB, and a big humidor with a GREAT selection of smokes!

http://www.cigarshopandmore.com/pictures.html#location1

Pictures 7, 8, and 9 are in the humidor of my local shop! GREAT place!

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the best part of my local shop is two fold.

1) i can smoke inside. this is a rare thing because of ohios indoor smoking laws.

B) one of the guys that works there probably rivals Alex in the volume of cigar knowledge. I feel like every time i walk in there i learn something. He is one of the few people that i know (IRL) that i can just sit down and discuss the philosophy behind different styles of blending cigars.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

Puro, that is a sweet shop. I am going to have to look that one up when I am down there. I've got two places to choose from here. the first one i went to the guy was helpful in picking out some cigars and a new lighter. The other one i just visited the first time last week. it was more of an in and out cigar run. They both have a smoking room w/ tv's and stuff but I didn't take time to check them out. hmmmm, sounds like a weekend project.

1 - big comfortable couches

2 - being inside in a regular environment(not a garage, attic or basement)
-----Ditto Kuzi's point as smoking inside is banned in MA
3 - typically going with a buddy or two just to hang and relax!


There is a place called Churchils in boston I have been wanting to try out. Ill hit this place my next time out with the guys.

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MOW Badge: Honorable Service recipient 9/21/2010



Work called! They said if you dont come in on Friday, dont bother to come in on Monday! - Whoo hoo four day weekend!

closest thing I have is the brewry that teamed up with a local cigar shop. outdoor smoking only though, stupid washington state. but they have propane heaters and a cover for the rain. people are pretty cool, beer is good. every other week they have a club night.

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"...And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear." -Haggai 2:5

My B&M is so great, it tends to be crowded! At peak hours there's a line to check out with your smokes. Amazing. Great selection. Great service. My only complaint is that none of the prices are marked, which is the ONLY cigar store I've been in in my life that doesn't bother.