Smokies Tobacco Shop has opened its second cigar lounge in Reading.
Smokies’ newest location celebrated its grand opening in October in the Berks County Trust Co. building at 35 N. Sixth St. in downtown Reading.
The self-styled boutique tobacco shop and joint venture by brothers Ahmed Sheikh and Jay Akram opened its first location in the Berkshire Mall in 2007. A cigar lounge on Lancaster Avenue in Reading opened in 2021.
Smokies prides itself on having the largest selection of tobacco and vapor products and accessories in the area, according to its website.
Its selection includes various forms of chewing, rolling and pipe tobacco, accessories and more, such as imported Dokha tobacco, cigarillos, hookahs and shisha blends.
Smokies also offers a walk-in humidor with an array of imported and domestic hand-rolled cigars, as well as the owners’ own “Monogramme” brand cigars.
Smokies Tobacco Shop has opened its second Berks County location at 35 N. Sixth St. (BILL UHRICH/MEDIANEWS GROUP)
The new lounge is in the former home of Meridian Bank in Reading.
Shuman Development Group underwent a $13 million project to restore the building, which now contains apartments, office space and a food court, in addition to Smokies.
“It’s another great business in downtown Reading,” Shuman said of Smokies at the ribbon cutting.
The lounge is stocked with recliners, an 86-inch television, shuffle board and pool tables.
“It’s kind of a different vibe than our lounge on Lancaster Avenue,” Jay Akram said in an Instagram post. “This is more of a private lounge.”
It also has a coffee bar featuring espresso, cappuccino and affogato, or ice cream topped with espresso and caramel, all crafted with beans imported from Italy.
“We put a lot of time and effort and hard work into this lounge,” Ahmed Sheikh said in an Instagram post.
Smokies also sells individual memberships, which grant access to a member locker at the lounge. The lockers are humidified and lined with Spanish cedar to maintain the cigars’ freshness, Smokies website says.
Membership perks include two free cigars every month, free BYOB privileges, 10% off all cigar purchases and 20% off all cigar box purchases.
Smokies’ new lounge is open Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. The lounge can be reserved for private events on Saturdays and Sundays.
Smokies Tobacco Shop has opened its second Berks County location at 35 N. Sixth St. (BILL UHRICH/MEDIANEWS GROUP)