A Havertown Cigar Store Owner's 'Confession'

The "VIP Guest Today" lawn signs in front of the Wooden Indian Tobacco Shop and Cigar Lounge were too interesting to just pass by on Thursday afternoon.

For a non-smoker the fragrant cigar store next to the Manoa Fire Co. station (yes, they do have a wooden cigar store Indian statue) is easy to miss. So the intrique of a mystery guest was enough to draw in a first time, non-smoker Patch Edtor.

Inside the store, which has a special exemption that allows smoking on the premises, are thousands of cigars and most times a handful or more of cigar lovers.

In the front of the shop at 95 Eagle Road is a showroom featuring hundreds of cigars. The special guest on Thursday was a representative of Oliva Cigars. The star of the shop is owner and certified tobacconist Dave Mayer.

Adjacent to the main showroom is a giant, walk-in humidorm, which Mayer says keeps more than 1,000 cigars at a constant 70 degrees and 70 percent humidity level. Mayer describes conditions inside the walk-in humidor like a "nice day in Florida." Think of the giant humidor like a cigar aviciando's answer to a walk-in wine cellar.

For the true cigar lover, there is also the Liga Pravada Cigar Lounge. It's a giant lounge equipped with comfy sofas and chairs, TV, sound system, and original art work. It's also a place where cigar lovers can meet to smoke and enjoy each other's company 24/7. During the store's regular business hours the lounge is open to any and all customers. After hours, there is a private entrance where club members can come at any hour to smoke a cigar and enjoy the company of other smokers.

Mayer says that much like wine lovers, cigar lovers enjoy the social aspects of sharing a common interest.

The Cigar Lounge is also where Mayer made what many, especially non-smokers, might consider a surprising confession.

Click on the Patch Video clip to see what Mayer told us about his own smoking preferences.