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.
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DAR HONORS VETS -WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
Members of the Edenton Tea Party Chapter NSDAR in partnership with the Warren Grove Missionary Baptist Church gathered along with family, friends and neighbors Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Warren Grove Missionmary Baptist Church Cemetery to honor veterans, lay wreaths on those veteran's graves and offer moments of silence and respect for the areas fallen heroes.
The annual event is sponsored by Wreaths Across America and honors veterans, yearly, through it established national wreath laying day.
At Warren Grove, Tea Party Chapter Regent Bonnie Henn welcomed guests before Chaplain Clara King offered the invocation. Wreaths Across America Committee Chair Melissa Schmeiler offered opening remarks highighting the meaing of the occasion.
After a moment of silence Co-Chair of Wreaths Across America Cynthia Herlong read the names of the fallen veterans.
Wreaths had previojusly been placed on the graves at the cemetery.
Wreaths Across America began as a small event, propagated by one family that grew into a national day of honor.
Remember the fallen, honor those who serve, teach our children the value of freedom is the mission of the organization that began in 1991 and grew exponentially after a simple snow covered picture went viral.
Originally, the Worcester Wreath Co. donated the wreaths as a personal tribute from the Worcester family to military veterans who gave their lives for this country. Working quietly under the radar, the family made the wreath donations to Arlington National Cemetery for nearly fifteen years before a photo changed their lives.
The company’s wreaths at Arlington covered in snow pulled at the heart strings of the public and went viral in 2006. This money was returned to donors because there was no mechanism in place for the family to accept the donations at that time.
In 2007, spurred by thousands of requests to help with wreath donations, the family gathered those who had been involved at Arlington National Cemetery to set up a non-profit corporation and Wreaths Across America, in name was born.
“For Wreaths Across America, wreath quality is important. Symbolically, wreaths represent everlasting life. These seemingly simple evergreens are so much more than a decoration placed on a grave. Wreaths Across America exists because hundreds of thousands of people across the United States and abroad responded to the emotional power of these wreaths and their simple ability to honor military members and their families. To this day, the outpouring of donations from thankful Americans humbles the Worcester family and makes them proud to be a part of something they never foresaw or intended”, states the organizations website.
Wreaths Across America is supported by donations from the public. Wreaths Across America 2026 is scheduled for December 19, 2026. Cynthia Herlong's presentation of the names of the veterans is below.