Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

So, I live in a small town. Well, 6 miles out from a small town. The "B&M" shop here is essentially a place that sells pot pipes, sex novelties, and has a small walk in humidor. The humidor is laughable at best. For a LONG time, I've wanted to visit a REAL brick and mortar shop, to see what most of you on here have actual access to.

This past weekend, I took my kids down to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area for an overnight hotel stay, then Chuck E Cheese and a small shopping spree at Toys R Us in Maple Grove. Which just so happened to be within a few minutes from Tobacco Grove. So after the kids' fun, I stopped in for a peek.

To be honest, I didn't want to leave. There were people in there that actually knew about and liked to talk about cigars! (Fun fact: I've never been to a herf either, so being able to talk cigars with other people in person was a great experience). But alas, the gf and kids were waiting in the car, so I was out in 10 minutes. Picked up a 2011 Viaje Holiday Blend robusto, 2012 Holiday Blend torp, a viaje Skull and Bones Little Boy (1st release), Tat Black petit lancero, and the guy in the humidor talked me into trying the new Cain F lancero tubo.

After leaving, went to a liquor store, picked up a 4 pack of Surly Abrasive, 6 pack of Bell's Hopslam, and a bottle of Stone Vertical Epic 12-12-12, none of which I can get in my small town liquor store.

SO I''ve made it a point to actually get down there by myself sometime, and really visit a B&M or 2, and spend enough time for a smoke or 2.

To those that have an actual B&M shop nearby, consider yourselves lucky. I wish there was an escape like that around here for me to support.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

This is fabulous. There are B&M's that will disappoint you, too. Those that do not value their customers like our 1 and only shop. I don't go there but I travel to the Cigar Room in Madison, AL, Vitolas in Birmingham, Patriot Cigars in Huntsville, AL to name a few. I give these guys all high marks on customer service. If you find one, stick with them. The long haul will tell you all you need to know. If they're still helpful and friendly after visiting a few months, then you will know they are a keeper. Unfortunately, with a FEW B&M's, familiarity breeds contempt.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

Glad that you were able to do this. I am lucky that I have a number of B&M's nearby and I try to patronize each of them when I can -- in order to keep them around.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

You had me at 'sex novelties'!

Was it just a shop or did they have a lounge you could smoke in, if not, I highly suggest if you head back to the big city see if there's a lounge, it's a wonderful experience to sit in a nice comfortable leather chair and enjoy a drink and stick. Consider it the adult version of chuckie cheese + toys r us!

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

That's awesome. you'll enjoy the Cain F tubo. great smoke.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

I could smell the smoke from the moment I stepped out of the vehicle, and I cracked a smile. It was a lounge too. Guys enjoying a book and a smoke, guys BS'ing and enjoying a cigar, and others at a table playing cards. That was one of the parts I enjoyed most about the place. I didn't take note if anyone had drinks, as I was kind of in sensory overload.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

I was a bit surprised by the prices of the cigars, but it is more of a MN tobacco tax than anything else. 70% wholesale tax. I believe that it's near the highest in the country. So a Fuente Between the Lines was 15.97, the Viaje holiday blends were 13.50, and the S&B was 13.75. Don't remember the rest that I looked at, though they did have some Summerfest sticks left that I was tempted to pick up as well.

Even so, The prices were entirely worth it for what the place had to offer its patrons.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

...:r That's funny Peter. Amazing what you can accomplish in a 10 min span huh? Hope you can make it back at some point in time (by yourself) where you can spend a little QT for a day or so:tu

And... they have a web site too:banger

http://tobaccogrove.com/

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

Excellent story, Pete. Thanks for sharing your experience. I can relate because there aren't any decent B&M by me either.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

have you tried Indian River in GR. thats not too bad

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

Nothing by that name here. Are you thinking of Grand Rapids, Michigan perhaps? I'm in Minnesota. The population of the Grand Rapids here is under 10,000.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

Same here I think Cali is 63%, that being said, if you are just getting a couple sticks, considering shipping fees it's almost break even, unless you are talking top shelf stuff, those I have noticed have a premium on them at the local B&M

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

I told the gf once I got back out to the car that I was coming down again soon, but by myself, and checking out this place in it's entirety, plus maybe a visit to a couple others I've read about. :tu

Yep, I actually looked up their website this morning, to order a 5 pack they had in the humi. Unfortunately, I have to pay a price higher than the website lists, because of the MN tax. But they had a 5 pack consisting of a Holiday blend robusto, two of the 50/50 (red label, different vitolas), a summer fest, and one other one for $55.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

Both Tobacco Grove and Burn are top notch places to enjoy a smoke or three. They unfortunately do not allow you to enjoy an alcoholic beverage while smoking, though.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

Tobacco Grove is a great place. Just let us know the next time you make it down:D

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

Mark is right. You should swing down on the 28th hit up both of them and then swing into GoodFellas on the east side for the long ash competition! Hit all three good shops in the cities! And the owner of Goodfellas let's us bring alcohol in. Whether it's legal or not though, I have no idea......

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

It was an unplanned stop. It just crossed my mind to stop there when I remembered it was close by. Next time I'll let you guys know :)

The 28th? I might be able to swing that. Though I believe the gf and I have tickets to a Big Wu acoustic performance in Duluth on the 1st.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

NICE! You popped your B&M cherry at a GREAT place. Tobacco Grove is my favorite MN cigar store and 2nd favorite in the country. But, those taxes are a bit*h!

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

The prices - mainly from tax - are what keep me from buying a lot of cigars in my B&M. But I still try to go there once a month and pick up four or five sticks. It's a way for me to support a local business, shoot the breeze with the staff about this wonderful hobby, and try out some single cigars that are normally out of my price range (normally I'll order a five-pack online to try a new cigar, but my budget has limits.) I don't know if I'd have ever tried a My Father, Ashton VSG, La Aroma de Cuba, or AF Don Carlos if it hadn't have been for my B&M, and that would have been a damned shame. :)

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

B&M's can be hit or miss, and unfortunately taxes don't help out. I don't get to spend as much time at B&M's as I would like to.

Sounds like you discovered a nice spot, that's one of the beautiful things about the hobby - being able to chat and talk with people who share your passion for cigars.

It is nice to be able to herf with friends at a nice B&M, but if that's not possible, the virtual brothers here on CA are just as amazing.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

I feel your pain. I must drive over an hour to reach the nearest B&M. And I pay 75% tax (NY). Reading this made me realize I haven't been to a B&M since last summer and I need to plan a visit. Luckily I will be visiting two of my sons in Albany around March 1st so I should get a chance to visit Habana Premium there.

Re: Almst had my first B&M experience.
 

Got pretty lucky here, even though the taxes are high, the local B&M prices aren't bad, nice guys so easier to stomach the higher prices, they are willing to cut deals on boxes and on any purchase they have a store card that you get 5% of all purchases (including drinks) back on the card in the form of store credit.