Some cigar-related observations of

Lumberg

Opus Lover
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
3,708
Location
Maryland
Seems like there is a tobacco store in every other strip mall, that sells mostly cigarettes, headshop-type bongs, knives, pipes, and figurines, lighters, and has a medium-to-small cigar humidor.

Most are way too humid and the taxes in Cook county in particular make the prices less than competitive.

I saw an entire corner of Ashtons covered in mold. Several boxes of VSGs were ruined, as well as some of the regular line, where the mold was actually inside the cello. I immediately pointed this out to the guy at the counter, who said "No, it's just from the humidity." I didn't quite know what to make of that, since, yes, technically mold is caused by excess humidity. I simply told him he had several hundred dollars of ruined cigars and to clear them out of the humidor before he had several thousand worth. He said he would check into it. I never went back. If I had and still saw mold I would have reported him to Ashton/Fuente. It was bad.

Also, most of the humidors housed ACID and other aromatic cigars right in the open, which gave the entire humidor a pungent smell.

Met Mr. Jerry. Very nice, talkative, considerate guy. Has some good stories, and knows a lot about cigars and the cigar business. Not the kind of guy who brags about it though. We had a very friendly and informative conversation, and he even showed me to a nice cigar shop that wasn't exactly his favorite. I guess he had a falling out with the owner, even though his name is on several plaques on the wall.

Oh yeah and he knows coffee too :D
 
Same problem with the biggest smoke shop in Ann Arbor. There are probably 20 boxes of smokes that have exploded from the humidity level being too high. There is an entire box of 1926 naturals (#6s I think, that are marked at $25/stick mind you) that are shot. Lots of VSGs and LGC Serie R for some reason.
 
Sr. Jerry is a good guy, even though he's a long-haried hippy......

Did he introduce you to Diana??? She loves him!! LMAO!
 
Oh wow..
SOunds like a bad time in chicago (cigar-wise)

Curious as to which shops you stopped into.

There are many out of the way that have an excellent array of cigars..with excellent prices.


I know the one you speak of but they are shamefully overpriced..But the owner is a gem.
 
Lum - I wished I would have known you were going to be in town so we could have set up a herf!!! There are some great cigar friendly establishments in and around Chicago.

Sorry you had a bad experience with the cigar stores - there are some nice stores that are true "tobacconists", all the others are as you describe - a head shop that has a corner area where they sell cigars. I'm surprised you didn't get the "we have Cuban cigars in the humidor!!!" like one idiot near me did. I didn't even want to get into it with him about the obvious fakes - I just walked out because he was beginning to become such a pain in the a$$...
 
Hey Lumberg, great meeting you! You sure wolfed down that burger, remind me to keep my hands away from you when you're eating! :D

We went to the Up Down Tobacco shop on North Wells St. The prices are a bit too high for my and add on to that the 26.75% cigar tax. Diana Silvius is the owner and she has a great looking store.

LMK next time you'll be in Chicago....I'll take you to Iwan Ries downtown. It's not a good looking store but they've got a very nice selection and the prices are OK...for Chicago.

I hope you and your wife-to-be will soon be enjoying the Killer Beans!
 
MrJerry said:
Hey Lumberg, great meeting you! You sure wolfed down that burger, remind me to keep my hands away from you when you're eating! :D

We went to the Up Down Tobacco shop on North Wells St. The prices are a bit too high for my and add on to that the 26.75% cigar tax. Diana Silvius is the owner and she has a great looking store.

LMK next time you'll be in Chicago....I'll take you to Iwan Ries downtown. It's not a good looking store but they've got a very nice selection and the prices are OK...for Chicago.

I hope you and your wife-to-be will soon be enjoying the Killer Beans!
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We have ALREADY been enjoying the killerbeans! :D
 
No I didn't have a bad time at all. I brought my own smokes so it was no loss to me. I did buy a PM Principe at a place called Tobacco Plus which was decent and had decent prices ($10 for the stick). It's in Matteson right on Rt. 30. Actually found out about it from talking to a guy who was smoking outside a Starbuck's.

The place with the mold was a place in Frankfort/Tinley Park in a strip mall at the corner of St. Francis and LaGrange. It's anchored by a Dominick's and I think they are building a Home Depot.

Unfortunately when I am in Chicago I don't really have time to do more than one smoking related meetup. If and when I return I will try to give a shout out.

Oh yeah, and next time I go to the city I am taking METRA. You couldn't PAY me enough to sit in that infernal traffic again.
 
...and REAL close to a very nice cigar shop at Harlem and 159th Street in Tinley Park!!! One without mold problems that has a good selection - ask AlexGTP and GTPHale
 
damn those guys live in the south suburbs? if we could swing a meetup that doesn't involve me hoofing it into the City we could definitely do it next time.


I'm going to look up on a map where 159th and Harlem is.
 
OH CRAP!!

Lumberg right across the street in the strip mall where the home depot is.

The tobacco shop there carries all sorts of goodies at good prices..

I pick up my anejo's and woam's there regularly.

And right next to the cub foods is BUD's sports bar..Great place for beer sport and CIGAR smoking at your dinner table.!

Let us know next time you are in.. I live 10 minutes from there.. :thumbs:
 
Looks like I am definately gonna be down in early october!!!!
HERF!!!


I wonder where Cigars cost more..downtown chicago or the strip?
 
Matty_Vegas said:
Looks like I am definately gonna be down in early october!!!!
HERF!!!


I wonder where Cigars cost more..downtown chicago or the strip?
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The strip..

by far.

LEt me know when you will be in.

Im sure we can do something downtown with the women..maybe go to gibson's for some steak and cigars..than head over to jilly's for some jazz and some drinks..
 
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