Lounge or shop in downtown Chicago
- Thread starter StocktonJohn
- Start date
JDog
BoM Nov '12 & May '13
http://www.jackschwartz.com/
http://www.updowncigar.com/
http://www.iwanries.com/
Not downtown but worth going to:
http://www.casademontecristo-chicago.com/
I would also check out Burning Leaf.
Let us Chicago BOTL know when you're coming out.
http://www.updowncigar.com/
http://www.iwanries.com/
Not downtown but worth going to:
http://www.casademontecristo-chicago.com/
I would also check out Burning Leaf.
Let us Chicago BOTL know when you're coming out.
Depends on where you're staying and if you're mobile. If you're downtown in or near the loop, Iwan Ries and Schwartz. Updown is in old town which will require a little planning on CTA if you're not with a car. Personally, if you can go to Ries or Schwartz, don't bother with UPdown. Blue Havana is even further north on Belmont on the outskirts of Wrigleyville so again, easy to get to via brown or red lines but time wise, you'll need to add an extra hour or so for the "commute". Again, unless you're interested in hitting all the shops, not worth your time.
Casa and the Leaf, you'll need a car or if you let the Chitown bro's know you're coming, I"m sure you can get a ride out but you'll need to set some time as I think they're about 45 min out of the city (never been to either as they didn't' exist when I was in Chitown). G1
Casa and the Leaf, you'll need a car or if you let the Chitown bro's know you're coming, I"m sure you can get a ride out but you'll need to set some time as I think they're about 45 min out of the city (never been to either as they didn't' exist when I was in Chitown). G1
Iwan Ries sucks, Schwartz closes early (5 or 6 M-F) and UpDown is small. Blue Havana generally is not on anyone's radar. Get out to Casa and the Burning Leaf. Better and more comfortable surroundings, plus you won't have to deal with the higher tax rate.
Ries sucks??? I hope you're kidding. He did ask for a lounge or shop in downtown so I started with the 2 in the city. Again, haven't been to Casa or the Leaf but I heard that Casa has an amazing lounge and the Leaf is also a must stop, again, depends on your mobility and time availability. Next time Im in Chitown, I'm definitely going to set aside a day to venture out to the burbs. G1
Ries does have a lounge, but when I was there, it was awful. You had to pay to get in and the room SUCKED! I heard that they did some renovations, but their selection is nowhere near Schwartz or UpDown. I would pass on Ries, if you're staying downtown. If you are gonna be smoking during the day only, then choose Schwartz. I don't recall UpDown's hours, but I do know that it is very small. So, hopefully you can get out of the city and see Casa and UpDown
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2010
- Messages
- 2,212
Weekend of March 3. I gotta hit one or two of the recommendations!
Very strange. I was there about 8 or 9 months ago and I loved the room. Very urban, nice chairs, free wifi. I didn't haven to pay but I used to be a regular for many years and I know the owners so that may be the thing. Schwartz the last time I was there only had 2 chairs in the place and the shop is really small, my only issue with them was they run on CBT type hours and closed on the weekends, actually the smallest of the 3 mentioned in the city.
I may be a little biased towards Ries as they were my shop when I lived there and stop in whenever I get a chance in Chitown, always welcomed with open arms and a little ribbing lol. Its definitely a downtown shop so you may feel out of place if you're not in a suit but thats with any downtown shop in a big city. Kind of like walking into the Davidoff shop on Madison in NYC without a jacket. I say try em both out and let us know what you think. G1
kockroach
BoM August 2010/2011
Not a fan of Ries either. You do have to pay to sit in the visitor lounge (at last I knew) and I am not very fond of how they store their cigars.
Definitely recommend going to Schwartz if you want to smoke during the day downtown (7am - 5pm). UpDown is open til 11pm (midnight on Fri/Sat), has a good selection, but a lil pricey. Blue Havana has more seating than Schwartz and UpDown combined, prices are also a lil high, but fairly good selection.
I definitely recommend going to Casa and the Leaf if you have the time and the means to get there.
JuYcEmAn
¡Soy un esnob de Fuente!
Start with UpDown Tobacco. I grew up in the vicinity and have patronized Diana's shop for years. Iwan Ries is old school, but serviceable. Jack Schwartz is certainly nicer than Ries; however (as mentioned) the hours are short. I have passed by Blue Havana, but never stopped in. It looks decent.
I must agree, you will need to make the trip to Casa de Montecristo. You will NOT be disappointed.
I must agree, you will need to make the trip to Casa de Montecristo. You will NOT be disappointed.
The last time I was in Blue Havana a few months ago, I bought half a box of Tat Face. They have so many hidden gems and tons of LE stuff, especially viaje, tats, and la flor. They also usually have some really nice sales there. I scored a bunch of pepin el centurians there as well for $5 a stick.
Guess I need to get my butt back to Chitown and get to Schwartz. When I lived there, their selection was smaller, the guys who worked there catered to the CBOT guys preferentially, and generally a little claustrophobic.
Up down's prices always turned me off(insert higher than the downtown shops), plus the fact that, at the time, you had to get someone to get the cigars for you (insert locked cabinets). Only upside is, if its late on a Saturday night, they're open for you to go and grab a cigar which your forgot to get at Ries or Schwartz during the day lol.
Blue Havana which is an offshoot of the Alley, started off as a "hmm cigar boom, we should open up a shop too" type shop during the last boom. With the other choices, I never go there with limited time in town.
Like I mentioned earlier, I've never been to Casa or the Leaf as they didn't' exist when I lived in Chitown. Will definitely try to schedule an extra day when I try to catch a game or two this summer. G1
Up down's prices always turned me off(insert higher than the downtown shops), plus the fact that, at the time, you had to get someone to get the cigars for you (insert locked cabinets). Only upside is, if its late on a Saturday night, they're open for you to go and grab a cigar which your forgot to get at Ries or Schwartz during the day lol.
Blue Havana which is an offshoot of the Alley, started off as a "hmm cigar boom, we should open up a shop too" type shop during the last boom. With the other choices, I never go there with limited time in town.
Like I mentioned earlier, I've never been to Casa or the Leaf as they didn't' exist when I lived in Chitown. Will definitely try to schedule an extra day when I try to catch a game or two this summer. G1