Cigars International Superstore

Cigars International Superstore is a large-format tobacconist and cigar lounge located at 1635 Mountain Rd in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. The store combines a full retail operation, a walk-in humidor, multiple seating areas and a bar under one roof, making it function as both a shopping destination and a place to spend an afternoon or evening. It serves Berks and Schuylkill counties along with a much wider regional audience, drawing visitors from the Lehigh Valley, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, northern Maryland, New Jersey and New York who plan trips around a visit.

The location operates under the Cigars International brand, a cigar retailer that began in the 1990s in Pennsylvania as a catalog and mail-order business before expanding into online sales and, later, brick-and-mortar superstores. The company remains headquartered in the Lehigh Valley, and the Hamburg store is one of a small number of physical retail locations it runs, with additional superstores in Pennsylvania and Florida. The retail concept was built to let customers browse and handle inventory in person, something a catalog operation cannot offer, and to provide a licensed lounge where purchases can be enjoyed on site.

Location and Access

The store sits just off Interstate 78 in Hamburg, in an area of Berks County known to travelers for its cluster of highway retail and outdoor recreation destinations. Its position along a major east-west corridor is part of the reason it attracts so much out-of-town traffic: it is a convenient stop for drivers moving between Harrisburg and the Lehigh Valley or heading toward the Poconos and the Blue Mountain ridge. The surrounding landscape is rural and hilly, which shapes the views from the building's upper outdoor areas.

Parking is straightforward. The property includes a free parking lot, there is additional paid lot parking in the area, and free street parking is available nearby. The lot and the main entrance are both wheelchair accessible.

Products and Inventory

The retail floor carries premium handmade cigars across a broad range of price points, from budget-friendly bundles to limited and boutique releases. Inventory typically spans:

• Handmade cigars from established Dominican, Nicaraguan and Honduran producers
• Boutique and small-batch brands that are often difficult to find at neighborhood shops
• House-brand and exclusive blends developed for the Cigars International catalog
• Sampler assortments and multi-cigar bundles built around themes, sizes or manufacturers
• Pipes and a range of pipe tobacco blends, including aromatic and English-style mixtures
• Cigar accessories: lighters, cutters, punches, ashtrays, travel cases and desktop humidors

The walk-in humidor allows customers to inspect individual sticks rather than order sight unseen, and staff are generally available on the floor to explain differences in wrapper, strength, construction and country of origin. For newcomers, this often means a short conversation about what they have smoked before and what they are hoping to try next. For experienced buyers, it usually means help tracking down a particular vitola or a recently released line.

The Lounge and Bar

A significant portion of the building is given over to lounge space. The layout includes multiple indoor seating rooms on more than one level, along with covered and open-air outdoor areas on the upper floor that overlook the surrounding countryside. Ventilation systems are built into the indoor lounges so that the space remains comfortable even when busy.

The lounge includes a licensed bar serving cocktails, spirits, beer and other beverages, along with a limited food menu suited to grazing rather than a full sit-down meal. Recreation options such as pool tables, darts and multiple televisions tuned to sports make the space workable for groups, and the store periodically hosts live entertainment and manufacturer events where brand representatives bring new releases, samples and promotional pricing.

Because the lounge is attached to the retail operation, the usual pattern for a visit is to purchase from the humidor first and then sit down to smoke. This model is permitted under Pennsylvania rules that allow smoking in qualifying retail tobacco establishments, and it is one of the main reasons the store functions as a social space rather than a quick-transaction shop.

Services and Practical Information

The business offers in-store shopping, in-store pickup for online orders and onsite services. Delivery from this location is not offered, though the broader Cigars International catalog operates its own shipping program. Wi-Fi is available for customers, which makes the lounge usable for people who want to answer email or take a call between cigars.

Accepted payment methods include:

• Credit cards
• Debit cards
• NFC mobile payments such as contactless phone and watch payments

The store is set up to handle both quick visits and extended stays. Customers who simply want to restock a humidor can be in and out in a few minutes, while those planning to use the lounge should budget a couple of hours. Calling ahead at +1 610-562-0500 is advisable if you are checking on a specific brand, confirming event schedules or asking about group seating.

Age Requirements and Policies

As a tobacco retailer, the store is restricted to customers who meet the legal minimum age for tobacco purchases, currently 21 under federal law. Valid photo identification is required for purchases and for entry to the lounge and bar areas. Anyone traveling with minors should plan accordingly, since the age restriction applies throughout the building.

Who the Store Suits

The Hamburg superstore works well for several types of visitors: collectors looking for depth of inventory and release-specific stock, casual smokers who want guidance before committing to a box, groups organizing a golf outing stop or a bachelor party detour, and travelers on I-78 who want a break that is more interesting than a rest area. It also serves as a regional gathering point for cigar enthusiasts in areas where local shops are smaller or where smoking lounges are scarce.

For first-time visitors, the most useful advice is to allow more time than expected. The size of the inventory, the layout across multiple floors and the availability of indoor and outdoor seating tend to turn a planned errand into a longer stop.