New York City's Oldest Smoke Shop Is 110 Years Old

[briarfriar]

Barclay Rex reaches age 110. Read Cigar Aficionado story here.

 

[litup]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. It sounds like a shame that some of the older locations couldn't be kept but it's remarkable that any shop can stay in business for even a few years. 110 years, by comparison, is practically a miracle.

 

[litup]

Also, the bit about using his Great Dane for advertising because he couldn't afford print advertisements was a charming detail.

 

[ssjones]

That is a great story! I used to travel to NYC for work with some frequency from 2000 to 2018. I think I visited the location on Lexington (it had a completely oak storefront, very narrow), in the early 2000's, pretty posh digs! Sadly NY taxes and NYC rates made purchasing pipe tobacco foolish. I had to drive past three PA shops on my way home, at their prices, it was a two-for one vs NYC. But, it was fun to window shop and usually I'd indulge myself with a modestly priced cigar. I did get tossed from the park at the NYC Library on the last trip, don't try smoking in there.....
I miss seeing the guys at the NYC club, it's been two years since I've been in the city.

 

[Ctbill]

LJ Peretti hits 150 this year...same source:
Boston Cigar Shop Turns 150 - https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/boston-cigar-shop-turns-150

 

[greeneyes]

Anybody ever try Barclay-Rex house blends of pipe tobacco?

I'm wondering whether it's something unique or just another unique combination of the same old blending tobaccos.

 

[BROBS]

I always thought it sounded like a full and proper name for a dog.

 

[mso489]

I think it was a Barclay-Rex store I visited on 42nd up the street from Nat Sherman, but a much smaller store. I liked it, but compared to NS with its rocking chairs and smoking areas, it seemed spare. But I honor their venerable age and hope they hang on for another century.