Cigars And Good Spirits

RIDGEWOOD HAS ALWAYS been a spirited town…actually, some spirits may even drift through the walls of a Chestnut Street cigar shop. For nearly half a century, The Tobacco Shop has been a local landmark for fine cigars, warm camaraderie, and, for a time, one mysterious guest from beyond.

Gary Kolesaire’s journey began in 1968, when he received his first pipe as a high school graduation gift. By 1979, he and his wife, Barbara, purchased Ridgewood’s original Wooden Indian shop, relocating to 10 Chestnut St. in 1983 and renaming it The Tobacco Shop. Today, the three-tiered store is a destination for cigar aficionados across northern New Jersey, with a meticulously maintained humidor stocked with world-class names like Davidoff, Opus X, Padrone, Plasencia, Atabey, and Meerapfel.

While it’s a small space, the Shop’s temperature—and humidity-controlled humidor is designed to fit a large inventory of rare, sought-after cigars.

“It’s essential to have that marriage between the humidity and the temperature to offer exceptional cigars that are exactly how the industry intends them to be, to get the maximum flavor out of that cigar,” says Kolesaire. “That’s why we can accommodate the very special limited-edition cigars out there—it’s an investment, but we are intentional about preserving our stock perfectly. We are very different than the other stores.”

“Rare and luxury cigars are the drivers of our success today,” says Kolesaire’s son, Tim, who helps run the family business. “We’ve been here a long time, and we have great relationships with suppliers, so we stock many cigars you can’t get elsewhere. That’s what we’ve built our business on.”

You won’t find Cuban cigars here, since they cannot legally be sold in the United States. But Kolesaire insists aficionados aren’t missing out. “The brands we carry are sourced from the

Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras, and they are all superior to the Cuban cigars. A Cuban cigar can be very good, but these countries put fascinating cigars into production, which can feature varying tastes as you smoke them.”

The crown jewel of the shop is its third-floor members-only Davidoff lounge, one of just four in the country and the only one in Bergen County. Here, loyal patrons enjoy personal humidified lockers, oversize leather chairs, fireplaces, and big-screen TVs—a retreat for watching the big game or closing a deal, all with a fine cigar in hand.

Below, the mezzanine level is open to the public, offering a colonial Williamsburg-inspired space lined with vintage law books, English hunt prints, and a stately grandfather clock, originally belonging to Kolesaire’s parents. The warm, wood-toned setting invites visitors to slow down, light up, and savor the moment.

But in 1993, as the shop underwent a major renovation, something unusual stirred. While removing an interior wall, Kolesaire witnessed a rush of energy sweep across the room.

“It wasn’t frightening,” Kolesaire recalls, “but it was unmistakable. It continued to happen at random moments. One day, my contractor and I both experienced it. There was definitely something there.”

The friendly spirit continued to appear for about three years, often sweeping through the shop without warning. Then, just as suddenly as it had arrived, the ghost vanished—coinciding with the installation of a rich green carpet in the main area and mezzanine. Kolesaire jokes that perhaps the spirit finally felt at peace in its beautifully renovated surroundings.

Now celebrating 46 years in business, The Tobacco Shop has become more than just a place to buy cigars—it’s a hub of tradition, friendship, and community. Longtime members gather in the lounge, newcomers discover rare cigars in the humidor, and generations of Ridgewood families continue to make it part of their story.

This Halloween season, when you pass by 10 Chestnut St., take a moment to peek inside. You’ll find the warm glow of leather chairs, the aroma of world-class cigars, and maybe—just maybe—the lingering trace of the most mysterious member of them all.

BY KRIS PEPPER