Ultimate man cave? One of U.S.’ largest cigar shops has putting green, 2 bars in rural PA

Josh Moyer
·3 min read

Rich Monts, a longtime manager at Cigars International Hamburg Superstore, puffed on a cigar and smiled while recalling just how easy it is to recognize some first-time visitors.

After all, the Berks County shop — one of America’s largest cigar stores at 12,000 square feet — tends to make an instant impression. So when someone walks into the two-story shop, cranes their neck upward and stares at ceilings as high as a cathedral’s, then immediately starts snapping photos feet from the entrance, Monts is usually tipped off to the first-time pilgrimage.

“It can be overwhelming,” Monts acknowledged, explaining cigars inside the shop range from low-end $3 sticks to a few super-high-end sticks valued at more than $2,000. “But that’s why we’ve established training — and our staff are cigar geeks — so they can help you on that journey.”

Several cigar shops stake claims as America’s largest and, for its part, CI Hamburg Superstore refers to itself as America’s largest freestanding cigar shop and as the country’s “biggest walk-in consumer humidor.” But, even if you’re not a cigar aficionado and don’t know a Cohiba from a Camacho, this gem in rural Pennsylvania boasts plenty of other reasons to visit.

The first floor of the Cigars International Hamburg Superstore contains more than 300 cigar brands and more than 1,000 cigar varieties.
The first floor of the Cigars International Hamburg Superstore contains more than 300 cigar brands and more than 1,000 cigar varieties.

The “ultimate man (or woman) cave,” as the store built in 2012 dubs itself, keeps plenty of non-cigar-smoking regulars coming back. It has a large outdoor putting green, two bars (one on each floor), an extensive whiskey collection, a high-tech ventilation system, a pool table, two domino tables, an amphitheater, 48 sit-down tables, live music, karaoke ... and you get the idea.

Customers can even relax on the wraparound deck outside, with a smoke and a drink, while overlooking the hills and valleys of northeastern Pennsylvania. Or, if it’s too hot, there are always the 40 oversized leather chairs inside worth sinking into — and plenty of areas conducive to long conversations or short business meetings.

“A cigar shop is a democracy of the mind. It’s a gathering place,” Monts added. “So you’ll have a doctor or a lawyer or a ditch digger sitting in the same area and having a conversation about the product, the catalyst that brought them here.”

If the topic is cigars, well, there’s plenty to talk about inside the wilderness lodge-style superstore. CI Hamburg Superstore has enough variety to leave a mathematician in a tizzy — 300-plus brands, more than 1,000 cigar varieties and nearly a million cigars in inventory. Plus, don’t forget the 200 pipe tobacco blends from dozens of brands, nor the 500 cigar/pipe accessories on top of that.

The unique shop can be found in a unique shopping district around Hamburg, a small town of just over 4,000 residents, at the intersection of Route 61 and Interstate 78. The cigar superstore is just a few hundred yards from the world’s largest Cabela’s store, a retail facility that features two indoor waterfalls and focuses on outdoor recreation.

What to know: You must be 21 or older to enter the superstore. It’s also worth checking out upcoming events on the store website or Facebook page to see if there’s something you might be interested in. For instance, live music is featured on the second Friday of the month and karaoke on the first Monday. Bike Nights are held 6-9 p.m. every third Thursday through September. And Pennsylvania CIGARfest will be held Oct. 5-8, which will include a whiskey tasting on Oct. 6.

What to bring: Sunglasses (if you plan to sit outside), putter and golf balls (if you plan to hit up the putting green) and ID. Even if you bring zero knowledge about cigars, Cigars International takes pride in its employees’ ability to match up new customers’ tastes.

How to get there: From State College, travel east on U.S. Route 322 to Harrisburg and then take Interstate 81 North to Interstate 78 East for an about 2 hour, 15-minute trip.

Cigars International Hamburg Superstore is open 7 days a week. The store hours are 9 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The bars open at 10 a.m. Friday/Saturday and 11 a.m. all other days and close when the store does.

The Cigars International Hamburg Superstore is 12,000 square feet. It boasts two fully stocked bars, an amphitheater, a wraparound deck, 40 oversized indoor leather chairs, an outdoor putting green and more than 1,000 cigar blends.
The Cigars International Hamburg Superstore is 12,000 square feet. It boasts two fully stocked bars, an amphitheater, a wraparound deck, 40 oversized indoor leather chairs, an outdoor putting green and more than 1,000 cigar blends.