Photo by Ron Burkett
Inside the humidor at Trussville Cigar Company.
No matter the blend, cut or style, Trussville Cigar Company aims to meet all the needs of cigar aficionados northeast of Birmingham.
The shop, located in a house at 112 Glenn Ave. off Cedar Lane, is stocked with cigars, humidors, cutters, lighters, lighter fluid and more. It is designed to provide a club-like atmosphere for men and women to spend an afternoon or evening, or even a whole Saturday, enjoying a cigar, especially during football season. Patrons are often found in the store’s several leather chairs or enjoying the back deck.
“This is kind of our home, and it’s a homey atmosphere. If you’re ever in the area, you may want to stop by,” co-owner Larry Butler said. “This is a place you go in, sit down and have a cigar and no one is going to get on to you for smoking or wave the smoke away from their face.”
Butler and fellow owners Terry Wester, Lynn Sullivan, Tommy Dorminey and Donny Mason joined together to keep the shop open this year when previous owner Curt Ryan announced he was closing.
“When it was announced it was closing, we all said, ‘Wait a minute. I don’t think so,’ There were a couple of us here who were adamant in staying open,” Sullivan said.
The partners collected the funds for the next month’s rent. Others, known as the Founders, chipped in and the new owners began working on a plan to renovate the space, increase its inventory and build a business not only to turn a profit but to create an inviting atmosphere.
“We’re the greatest little cigar shop in town,” said Sullivan. “We were not going to let the place close up. We’ve got a group of guys here who’ve made personal friends. We care about each other. It’s not just a customer and shop relationship.”
An idea to first keep it open as a private club morphed into the idea of selling memberships, which provide discounts on merchandise and a private locker with a key to store alcohol, since the store does not have a liquor license.
The story carries a wide range of premium sticks direct from the manufacturers of Perdomo, Oliva, Southern Dra, Warfighter and GTO out of Montgomery. The store also has Alabama’s largest selection of Kristoff Cigars, including the select 685 Woodlawn line, a personal favorite of Kristoff founder Glen Case, who visited the shop in October.
It is one of only three locations in Alabama to carry Warfighter, a cigar only sold to shop owners who are veterans or service personnel. Two veterans and a police officer are among the owners of the shop, which caters to veterans and first responders through decor and discounts. It’s not uncommon to walk in and find service members enjoying a day off.
Trussville Cigar Company holds monthly events and is also available for private events for its members, which includes an upfront fee that is turned into store credit during the event. It is an inviting space for men or women to enjoy a cigar and shop.
“There are a lot of women out there who smoke cigars and they would be comfortable here,” Butler said.
The store is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, but Butler says patrons are welcome to hang out as long as someone with a key is still in the building.
For more information about the shop or events, visit trussvillecigar.com, Trussville Cigar Company on Facebook or call the shop at 508-5277.
