All About Us
A New Beginning
Almost 20 years ago, local businessman Tim Harris got some of his fellow cigar loving friends together and formed an informal cigar club in Valdosta, Georgia. Meeting once a month at various locations (mostly Mom & Dad's Italian Restaurant), the group enjoyed fun conversation over delicious food and fine cigars.
A year after the local cigar bar (Golden Leaf) closed, Tim started looking into the possibility of re-opening the property with a new focus and passion of exceptional customer service and a more varied selection of fine cigars, pipes, pipe tobacco, domestic and craft beers and fine wine, not ordinarily found in Valdosta. As his ability to acquire former furnishings and smoke eaters took shape, the idea of bringing the old store back to life came closer to reality,
About this time, searching for someone to operate the business, Tim approached friend and fellow cigar lover Michael Jetter. With a strong background in management and customer service, Jetter had the ability to connect with customers Harris was looking for.
Finally after months of hurried preparation, Stogies Downtown was born on New Years Eve 2014. Nothing like ringing out the old and banging the gong with the new!!!
Now in its ninth year of business, Stogies growth has been built on service and education. Tim and Michael have been fortunate to be able to visit the facilities and farms of Tabacalera Perdomo in Esteli, Nicaragua, where they learned the many components of growing, fermenting and assembling first-class cigars. At the July 2017 IPCPR conference in Las Vegas, Michael successfully completed his exam and was awarded the designation of Certified Retail Tobacconist by Tobacconist University and the Premium Cigar Association (PCA). Michael has furthered his education with a visit's to the Rocky Patel Premium Cigar factories in both Honduras and Nicaragua and LaAurora Cigars in Honduras.
As Stogies turns a new page and opens on Monday's, Tim and Michael are excited to welcome cigar lovers from throughout South Georgia and North Florida. Stop in and browse the hundred's of scents in the store's beautiful walk-in humidor, sample from our 45 different beers and sip on a glass of delicious White, Red or Port wine. Stogies Downtown is a place to meet, mingle and make new friends and for old friends to build stronger, lasting relationships.
