Tinder Box

Ask anyone in Charlotte where to buy a serious cigar and the Tinder Box comes up fast. This has long been regarded as one of the best cigar spots in the city, and the folks who have been coming here for years will tell you why: a humidor that is always stocked, organized, and well maintained, with something for every level of smoker from a first stick to the niche and rare stuff. The lineup runs deep. You will find Arturo Fuente, Padron, My Father, Oliva, Rocky Patel, Davidoff, Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, AJ Fernandez, Plasencia, Ashton, EP Carrillo, CLE, Acid, and Deadwood, among others.

Beyond the cigars there are tobacco pipes and a full range of accessories, including Zippo and ST Dupont lighters, Colibri, Lotus, Diamond Crown, and Savoy. One nice touch people mention is the digital menu on iPad, with pictures and detailed descriptions so you see exactly what you are picking up. The staff is the part regulars talk about most. They are knowledgeable and genuinely friendly, ready to steer a brand new smoker toward the right stick or talk shop with a longtime aficionado.

Kelsey in particular gets named for knowing her cigars inside and out, and even people who have never set foot in a cigar store say they were made to feel at home rather than out of place. The back smoking lounge is a favorite hangout, clean and comfortable, with new events, monthly specials, and discount bundles that keep the value strong. One local summed it up as the best place to hide from just about everything. We will be honest: a couple of people have run into a rougher moment with service on a busy day.

That runs against the grain of what nearly everyone else experiences here, and the shop's reputation as a welcoming, classy cigar destination in Charlotte remains well earned.