Owl Shop Press
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Joe Lentine
The Owl Shop originally opened as a bookstore in 1934 at 84 ½ Wall Street in New Haven, CT by Joseph St. John who came to America from Greece in 1925. Joseph was also selling pipe tobacco and mixing his own blends and soon tobaccos and tobacco accessories were the products of choice.
Between 1937 and 1950 he and his wife Catherine expanded to five stores throughout New Haven until in 1951 they chose to consolidate under one roof, the College Street location. After the death of her husband, Catherine kept the shop open and became one of the original tobacconists in the country to sell Avo Cigars and to become a Davidoff Cigars Appointed Merchant.
In 1998, Glen Greenberg bought the Owl Shop, in 1999 he acquired a liquor license and since 2004 the Owl Shop has been the only public venue in CT where one can smoke and drink. One of the original employees, Joe Lentine, a Master Tobacconist and true tobacco aficionado continued working at the Owl Shop until his untimely death in 2015.
Today, with the assistances of General Manager, Jim Richards the Owl Shop maintains its fine reputation for being one of the best tobacco shops and cigar lounges in the country. The Owl Shop boasts a plush cigar lounge, weekly free live music, full cocktail bar with over 200 whiskies, a coffee bar, light fare served day and night and a 400sf walk-in humidor where Jim blends our world-renowned Owl Shop Tobacco Blends and where you will find not only a full line of Davidoff cigars but one of the most complete collections of classic & boutique cigars available.
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New Haven Independent
"Kevin Saint James Band Smokes Owl Shop"
January 4, 2024
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The Coolest City to Visit in Each State The Discovery Blog
Home to Yale University, New Haven lays claim as Connecticut’s most prestigious college town. It’s also said to be the birthplace of the hamburger and the first Connecticut pizza. A rendition of the original ground beef patty (created in 1900 for the on-the-go customer) can be tasted at Louis Lunch (established in 1895!) and a slice of Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana’s must be tried. If that’s not enticing enough, New Haven also houses the world largest indoor ropes course. Don’t miss: The Owl Shop, a cozy, old school cigar shop that dodged the no-smoking-inside ban. Live jazz, drinks, and nibbles also found here.
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Where there’s smoke, there’s history
September 24, 2019
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Philadelphia to New Haven Weekend Trip What to Do
February 21, 2018
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Family, Food & Bourbon:
Litchfield Distillery, Guilford Mooring & Owl Shop Cigars Do It Right:
Written by Marc LeBlond - Edited/Photographed by Sarah Pfeffer.
December 14, 2017
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New York Times:
A cigar shop turned music lounge has the thick, hazy atmosphere of bygone jazz clubs. At the Owl Shop in New Haven, Smoking Is Encouraged
April 1, 2016
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Cigar Aficionado - Where to Smoke:
The Owl Shop, New Haven, Connecticut, by David Sevona
November 12, 2015
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Owl Shop - Old Yale in New Haven
November 2007
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Advocate Best of New Haven 2007
Best Place to Buy a Cigar
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A Smoker's Last Refuge
October 2007
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Yelp.com
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Happy Smoking!