Cigar Clients
Named after the “lectors” who read to cigar rollers throughout the Americas and the Caribbean, Cigar Reader was founded as a place to talk about fine smokes, drinks and other trappings of the good life. The site is run by John Biggs and Tom Johansmeyer.
Founded in 1964 by Roberto De La Concha, De La Concha Tobacconist is one of New York City’s premier full-service tobacconists. In 1965 Lionel Melendi signed on to run the shop and eventually purchased it outright. The Melendi Family owned the shop from 1965 to 2006, when it was purchased by one of the most esteemed names in cigars, Davidoff. Ron Melendi CMT a 4th generation Cuban-American tobacconist continues a Melendi Family tradition at the helm of De La Concha, serving as the current general manager. De La Concha prides itself as a traditional professional tobacconist — offering premium tobacco products with an emphasis on personalized customer service — to a discerning local and national clientele. Open seven days a week, De La Concha Tobacconist is located at 1390 Avenue of the Americas (between 56th & 57th Streets), New York City. For more information contact De La Concha at (212) 757-3167 or visit www.delaconcha.com. Phone and web orders welcome.
Founded in 1997, Shelly’s Back Room is one of a kind in Washington, DC a comfortable retreat for cigar aficionados and those who simply want to unwind. Proprietor Bob Materazzi features an impressive cigar selection coupled with an traditional American food menu and one of the most extensive spirits menus in the area. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, Shelly’s Back Room is located at 1331 F Street NW (between 13th & 14th Street) Washington, DC. For more information contact Shelly’s at (202) 737-3003 or visit www.shellysdc.com.
W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist was founded in 1887 by William Curtis Draper. It is the oldest full service tobacconist in the District of Columbia and the third oldest in the United States. Proprietors John Anderson and Matt Krimm offer a full array of cigars, pipes, pipe tobacco, snus and smoking accessories (lighters, ashtrays, cutters, punches etc.,) to a national clientele. Drapers is located at 640 14th Street NW (at G Street), Washington, DC. In 2011, W. Curtis Draper Bethesda (formerly Bethesda Tobacco) located at 4916 Del Ray Avenue, Bethesda, MD was opened. The shop marks the company’s first foray outside the District of Columbia. For information on the DC shop call (202) 628-2555. For Bethesda, call (301) 907-7990 or visit www.wcurtisdraper.com.