Name:
UPDOWN TOBACCO
UpDown really stocks the best of the best. Whether it is pipes, tobacco,
cigars, humidors, or accessories, come here for the finest. There is a beautiful display of S&S Meerschaums just inside the door and another
of Savinellis at the back. They carry 200 kinds of pipe tobacco, including four that are blended on site. Besides all the other cigars, they carry
the Diana Silvius line; four sizes of Connecticut wrapped Dominicans that are rolled to Gits' specifications by Fuente. Humidors that are works of art (sit down before you check the price tags) are displayed in specially designed cases.
Name:
KINGBURY'S CIGAR SHOP
(inside Sam's Wine and Spirits)
With some people, liquor store tobacco shops have a bad reputation. This place is likely to give them a good one. Sam's has fine food, vintage wine, and some damn good cigars. Okay, so it's in Yuppie heaven, but who indulges their hedonistic yearnings better?
Name:
BLUE HAVANA
"It's weird, but there's a sort of yin yang symbiosis between them," says
Mark Thomas, about his adjacent tobacco and lingerie shops. Something for the men and the women, but which is for whom? In truth, I had a hard time concentrating on the cigars. Which is surprising, because there is a lot to see here (in cigars, I mean). Besides an excellent selection of established brands, there are some interesting new ones. "We think there are a lot
of good cigars out there and we're finding them," Thomas says.
Name:
AROUND THE WORLD TOBACCO
Mark Musleh says his clientele
are experienced, knowledgeable smokers who
expect good quality. "Our philosophy is value.
Keep the price low and supply what the
customer needs." This he has done. Around The
World Tobacco has a large selection of cigars,
some pipes, and tobacco at good prices. They
carry Dunhill, Avo, Punch, and Hoyo de
Monterrey, as well as a variety of newer brands,
and customers come from all over Chicago to
buy them.
Name:
CHICAGO CIGAR COMPANY
Located on Lincoln Avenue near Irving Park Road, the Chicago Cigar Company is in a rapidly developing part of the city. The building has been in the Sokes family for 100 years, and Wayne grew up in the neighborhood. He opened the business when he felt that the area had grown enough to need a place to relax, drink gourmet coffee, and smoke. Here you can do all three. The humidor stocks fewer premium brands than some shops, but you can still find a Fonseca, Don Tomas or Fuente, and Sokes has worked hard to fill in the gaps with interesting new cigars.
Name:
HABANA HOUSE OF FINE CIGARS
Habana House has a lot of cigars and a little bit of everything else. Their
Bad Boy cigars are bundled Hondurans that sell for $3.50 and are a good deal. They also carry one of the largest selection of Fuentes outside
The Loop. Besides pipes they have their own blends of tobaccos prepared on site, as well as accessories and humidors.
Name:
GOODFELLA'S CIGAR A SHOP
A good hang in the 'hood. These two brothers have put a shop in an area
where you wouldn't think there would be much interest in fine cigars. Michael Squeo said he had doubts when it opened, but Goodfella's has done well here. "Most of my customers are cops, firemen, city workers, and
guys from the neighborhood. People complain because the cops want a discount but I'm happy to give it to them 'cause they buy 1O times as many cigars. And they do a tough job so it's not a problem for me."
Name:
"THE BIG CIGAR" CO.
"I like bringing on new products," Buono says,
and there are a variety of
interesting new or moderate priced cigars in his
humidor. Big Butt, La Aurora, and Victor Sinclair
are here, but Buono carries Partagas, Punch,
Macanudo, and Hoyo de Monterrey as well. He
researched carefully before opening and has
established a shop with a lot to offer both in
cigars and events. "The Big Cigar" sponsors wine
and cognac tastings, golf outings, and a cigar
dinner once a month. They have a lounge area
and cigar lockers for their clients.
Name:
UPDOWN TOBACCO
Name:
CHICAGO CIGAR COMPANY
Name:
"THE BIG CIGAR" CO.
