Week in Smoke – TGT Edition posted on February 9th, 2012
Cigar Shop Review: Bethlehem, PA – Cigars International Super-Store
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Name of Shop: Cigars International Super-store
Date Visited: 03/23/09
Street Address: 4078 Nazareth Pike
City: Bethlehem
State: PA
Zip: 18020
Phone Number: (484) 895-3933
Hours of Operation:
Mon – Fri: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday: 9:30am – 9:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Website: http://www.cigarsinternational.com
Location: Exceptional
The shop is located directly off a main highway making it easily accessible from NYC, NJ, Philly, central PA, and the Poconos. The store is easy to find off the highway as well. You can literally see it coming off the off ramp from the east (Rt 22 West bound), and there are no back roads that are needed to get you there.
Staff: Exceptional
Not being a ‘ma and pa’ shop allows to hire top quality employees that don’t mind driving to work from an hour away(probably because they have benefits?). The first time I entered the store I held a single cigar band of a cigar I enjoyed, and left with a handful of cigars I had never had before that I would end up enjoying. There will always be at least 1-2 extremely knowledgeable people on site so all your questions will be answered. On top of that, if you are looking around they will ask if you need help, and if you say you do not they will leave you alone instead of continuously asking you. I have yet to meet an unfriendly employee here. On top of this if you buy a box or a bundle, smoke a cigar and are displeased with it, you can return it for store credit with absolutely no hassle(which I have done a few times).
Stock: Exceptional
Their selection is enormous. Not only do they have most brands in stock, but it is rare to find a cigar in only one size. The first time I entered I felt almost lost because there are just so many shelves of cigars. They only cigars I ever find not in top quality are tubed cigars which may have some mold on them (I personally would never buy a tubed cigar for this reason alone, and when I do I immediately take them out of the tube). As for prices they are as low as you can get. Companies have actually pulled product from the store because they did not want their cigars discounted. If that doesn’t speak of how low their prices are I am not sure what would. Remember they buy the cigars in huge quantities for the catalog, but pass the low price to the store as well (store brings in ~1-2% of their total sales).
Lounge: Exceptional
The store is always spotless if you are first to enter in the morning. As the day progresses the ash trays build up, but that is understandable since it is a cigar shop. The store is divided into two parts. The Gurkha lounge in the back has one TV, with a ~3×5 ft table to sit around. The table is surrounded by four large comfortable leather chairs and two rockers. On the other side of the same lounge is another ~3×5 table with four leather chairs. There are two chessboards as well. There are also some single chairs and a two seater at the top of the lounge, facing a stone fire place, equipped with a mantle. You may move the chairs around as needed, or ask for more if the ones left out are all taken. Toward the front of the store there is a bar (no liquor just the table) with three bar stools. Also there is a high oval table ~ 2×3 ft with three chairs surrounding it facing another flat screen TV. In the corner there are three leather seats in sort of a living room arrangement with a carpet in the middle. In the middle of the store there is another single oval table with three seats (same as the first I described). Up front they also offer coffee for free, have a water cooler, and have a soda machine ($0.75). There are also two very clean bathrooms (well, I can say the mens is clean so I assume the womens is in the same shape) at the front of the store. I almost forgot, they have free WiFi there so you can bring you laptop in and get some work done.
Overall Opinion: Exceptional
I love the place. There are so many cigars to chose from I get worried I will never be able to smoke them all. If you are ever in the Bethlehem area definitely stop by. Oh yeah I almost forgot, it’s BYOB, so don’t forget to bring a nice bottle of scotch or whiskey with you (enough to share cause there will always be some others there!).
See the pictures I took at the link below.
http://s685.photobucket.com/albums/vv212/lawnmoeoar/CI%20Super-store/
Wow, what a place. If I’m ever up there in PA, I’ll HAVE to stop in.
That shop is insane. I’ve never come across anywhere remotely as well-stocked.
I was there on Saturday and couldn’t have been happier with the service and selection. Pretty close to cigar heaven if you ask me!
Great review!
Nice review Joe. I agree – CI is the place to be.
I live not ten minutes from there & stop in frequently. The place is like my cheers: everone is knowledgable, friendly, good prices – they really treat you right.
There are more than a few competators that could really take a lesson here.
Frist off, Nice review Shake.
I’ve travelled to PA a number of times to hit up Famous, Atlantic, and CI. CI certainly has a selection that cannot be beat and the lounge is phenomenal. Except, don’t sit in the cartwheel chair (if you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about).
That aside, I don’t particularly care for the shop. The number of times I’ve been in there, I don’t feel like customers receive that ‘personal touch’ that you would get from a mom and pop. I liken it to picking up your prescriptions at CVS vs. a small independent local Pharmacy. The guy at CVS although knowledgeable and friendly, doesn’t know you unlike your local pharmacist who knows you, your mom, your siblings, and what birth-control your girlfriend is on (LOL). But that is my only complaint about the shop – you really don’t get that personal touch that you do at a place like Atlantic (just to compare).
Saying that…
Do I make a cigar trip to PA every so often? Yes I do.
Do I stop at CI when I am in PA? Yes I do.
Do I like a large selection? Yes I do.
Do I like walmart-style pricing on cigars? Yes I do.
Will I go back to CI? Sure will.
Does the Devil hire me to advocate for him? Yes, Indeed he does.
!dk
wow. i’m really jealous of people who live near this place. Wish I could get a free cigar every time I bought 5!
oh, what up with the cartwheel chair?
Thanks for the excellent review. One of the things I truly miss living on the beach is the lack of great B & M’s; when I travel I make it a point to seek out great spots to hang out and enjoy a cigar.
Maybe CI should think about opening a beach shop on Georgia’s Golden Isles!
I live in Dover, DE. I’ve been there a few times when I travel to the Lehigh Valley for business. If I get out of my visits early, I’ve managed to go to the store, buy a few sticks to add to my humidors. But the best is I can actually sit down, and smoke a cigar while I catch up with work on my laptop and even call a few customers. The environment is friendly, open to conversation (or privacy) and definately relaxing. By the time I leave the store, I’m already in a great mood. Service is excellent, and the selection is overwhelming. Any cigar aficionado should treat themselves to a visit here at least once.