Thompson Cigar Headquarters Shutting Down June 29

Thompson Cigar, one of the oldest and largest retailers in the country, will be shutting down most of its U.S. operations on June 29.

Last year, Scandinavian Tobacco Group—the publicly-traded company that owns General Cigar Co. and Cigars International—acquired Thompson and Co. for $62 million. Most of the Tampa-based operations—a warehouse, call center, support staff and others—will be shut down on June 29, though the physical retail store within the company’s headquarters will remain open indefinitely.

A total of 112 people are expected to be laid off as part of the move.

Sources have told halfwheel that STG has tried to retain some personnel, but many jobs—like those in the call center and warehouse—are not part of those retention efforts. Thompson’s operations will be absorbed into the larger Cigars International operation located in Pennsylvania.

Craig Reynolds, president of Cigars International, told halfwheel there aren’t concrete plans as to how long the physical retail operation will remain open. Sources have told halfwheel that Cigars International is planning two stores in the Tampa area, Reynolds declined to comment on those plans.

The Thompson retail outlet is one of the more peculiar places to buy cigars in the U.S. It is located within the Thompson headquarters and offers no place to smoke. It is located at 5401 at Hanger Court.

In addition to the two Tampa stores, Cigars International is working on a new location in Fort Worth, Texas which the company hopes to have opened by the end of this year.