GREYBEARDS CIGARS and INDULGENCES, a CIGAR SMOKERS HAVEN
High end cigar lounge welcomes guys without grey beards
Edenton's recently opened Greybeards Cigars and Indulgences on Broad Street, has locals and visitors alike periodically stopping, cupping hands to block the sun, peeking inside to view the craftsmanship of the welcoming copper and wood interior.
The project is coming to fruition after a build out and remodel that was a labor of love for the owner who designed and styled the building after one of his favorite cigar shops in London, James J Fox.
Greybeards is not your grandad's cigar store. It's Thomas Gardners.
Gardner spent 20 years in the military and eventually took his talent to the private sector spending another 20 years conducting business around the world. He always found himself enjoying a good cigar after his meetings.
“As I enjoyed cigars, I found pairing a good whiskey or rum with a cigar always brought out the flavor of the cigar.” Gardner explained.
Guess what happened next?
When Gardner was approaching retirement, he made the decision to turn his avocation into a vocation. The natural move was to open the cigar lounge in Edenton.
Gardener's 'natural move' follows a long lasting tradition of lighting up. on the porches around town.
In the 18th century, cigars were not just a luxury enjoyed by the elite; they were also a symbol of camaraderie, relaxation, and even rebellion. As tensions between the American colonies and British authorities escalated, cigars became a staple among the revolutionary leaders and soldiers who fought for independence.
It wasn't by chance that Greybeards opened in Edenton.
Garner met his wife in North Carolina and his two grown children both live in the state. His investment in two buildings on Broad Street, highlights a lengthy commitment to town.
When designing the new store front at 403 South Broad Street, he modeled it after one of his favorite tobacco shops in the world, the J Fox St James in London. Gardner’s building has a long history dating back to the 1800s. Up until 1893 the building was known as the Gregory Bar. In 1893 after the fire on September 20, 1893, the building was the first to be rebuild. The current renovation captures the industrial look by exposing the old brick and using local wood for the bar counter and copper trim for the trim.
Greybeards will also be offering gift boxed cigars and has future plans for personal humidors for regular guests.
Greybeards
Proprietor Thomas Gardner
403 South Broad Street
252-305-1670
Wednesday - Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
James J. Fox
James J Fox, the great British cigar merchant has been trading in fine tobacco and smokers' accessories from 19 St James's Street since 1787/ Their customers have included discriminating smokers from all walks of life – from commoners to kings. Among them have been Sir Winston Churchill, Oscar Wilde, British and Foreign Royalty, the officer's mess of famous British regiments, and the leading lights of the stage, film, sport, tv, radio, music and literature.