
Hey! Some of you may know me, but many of you may not, as I have been taking a little rest from the cigar business for the last 15 years or so.
My name is Lew Rothman and I used to sell the lion’s share of the handmade cigars in this country through wholesale, retail, and mail order. Anyway, my friend Abe at Smoke Inn thought his customers might be interested in hearing some random stories about… about… I don’t know, just whatever happens to come to my mind while I’m here in my rocking chair at the Home for Retired Cigar Czars.
The Home for Retired Cigar Czars, (let’s just call it the HRC for short) is a place where old gaffers like me who used to manufacture, import, and sell the majority of cigars in this country go to retire — and later expire.
Every morning these nice young people who work at the home clean us up, change our undies, wipe the dribble off our chins, and wheel us out onto the porch, rain or shine, where we sit in our rockers smoking cheap handmade cigars we have mooched from our previous friends who are still alive and in the industry. They are always more than anxious to send us anything we want as they know that sooner or later, they will be joining us out here on the porch. We really don’t have a hell of a lot to say to each other since all our days are basically identical and the only time any of these guys seem to perk up is if some girl comes jogging by the HRC in a pair of those skintight Yoga pants.
Well, anyway…. from time to time, I’ll be writing some stuff here…. and unfortunately, because I have a penchant for telling the truth and what’s actually on my mind… it means that sooner or later, Abe will decide that having me around might be good for his business with his customers, but bad for his relationship with his suppliers. So, until I wear out my welcome, just check in here every now and then.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Smoke Inn, its employees, or its affiliates.
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Wow! Lew, welcome back. I hope your being tongue in cheek about HRC. Used to subscribe to your Cigar magazine and loved the stories in your JR catalogs. Very much looking forward to reading some great TRUE stories.
A true legend…Semper Fi Lew….followed you from the days of your old board where Saka was the moderator and he was almost put to his untimely death…..miss your stories…..gg
Welcome Mr Rothman!
Lew is the best! Can’t wait to read more!
Lew, I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it was not for you and Lavonda- smelly and broke. 😉Your printed catalogs have the singular distinction of being the only mail order catalogs I collected. Looking forward to you taking up the pen again.
Looking forward to reading you again Lew!
Return of a true legend! My first edition copy of Cigar Almanac is one of my most cherished books!
Let it rip, Lew. I’ve been waiting for this for years!
-Macy Hanson in Mississippi
Fantastic to hear Lew is doing this. I wish I still had my old JR catalogs from the ‘90s when I started buying from JR. Lew’s stories and cigar anecdotes were hysterical. One that comes to mind was the crayfish story. I can’t remember the details but I’d love to find that or at least have Lew rehash it!
Good to see you’re still alive and kicking!
– A fan since the Cigar Boom.
I look forward to reading your tales Lew. Thank you for sharing.
I stopped wearing undies once I retired and no longer jog in the yoga pants. Thank you for sharing cigars with world. Our blood pressure is lower and lives happier. Don’t worry about aAbe.v he is a handsome off owner. 😉 😉
I’ll be interested to hear more. I’m curious whether Lew was at the Wholesale level, as he could easily have been the owner of Mike’s when it was on Miami Beach, Waaaay back when. Or the news & cigar shop owner on Alton Rd. Or, perhaps the partner at a shop in Sunrise at Lincoln Plaza. He looks familiar
Great article and yes I’ve heard of you before I became a Smoke Inn Socialite back in 2000. When there was no lounge around the base and even if there was most times it was easier to order from JR’s. Driving I85 & I95 was easier with you as a stop. Anyway, if the new kids paid attention they would’ve heard Abe and Steve speak about you.
By the way, wouldn’t it be HRC2 (2 as in the “C” is squared)? Hope to see more of your stories and ramblings.
Looking forward to reading all about it.
Keep ’em coming! 🙂
Hope it’s as good a read as your old JR catalogs were. Thinking about the scorpions(LMAO) and others.
Great article, I’m glad I opened that email! I loved your write ups in the JR Cigars catalogs. You should definitely get together with David Garafolo on his podcast. Have a wonderful day.
This could be like babe Ruth playing in this years spring training. Legend coming up to the plate
Can’t wait to read more!
I used to love reading your stories when you were at JR! I’m happy to know you’re still around, Marine!
I can’t breathe very well anymore (not from smoking, but from silicosis- ILD) but I still love a cigar now and then as well. I’m looking forward to reading more from you.
A great start !!!
Good to hear from Lew again!
I’m already waiting for the next release.
Looking forward to it,… thanks.
I use to look forward to the catalog every month! The deals were almost as good as Lew’s monologue. Too bad he sold out. The current owners, have run me off with their lack of service and overpriced cigars. I have taken my business to Pensilvania .Lew is a legend, great to here he is still around!
Looking forward to hearing some of your stories, Lew!
Always fun to read some copy by Mr. Lew!
A wish come true! The one and only Lew Rothman has once again picked up his pen! All the articles he wrote during his mail order business at JR were priceless! Tell me where the porch is Lew, I’d like to join you one day for a smoke!
I love JR Tobacco stores and was fortunate to meet and sell an IBM computer to Lew and his company. I also stop several years to South of the Borden to buy some cigars. Hope he is still puffing away on his rocker!
I used to look forward to receiving every new JR Cigar catalog and reading your hilarious comments and insights! I’m very glad to hear from you again here.
Here it is, 0330 and what crosses my mind? Thinking about enjoying a good cigar in a few hours and so of course, the person I find bouncing around in my empty skull? Lew Rothman of course!
I do a search and find very little. So being the stubborn woman I am I keep looking. And what do you know…. Eureka!!! I find his little article. In Smoke Inn! I still miss his articles in his JR Cigar catalogs. They were entertaining and informative.
Hope we are fortunate enough to read more from him. His humor and knowledge improves the day! Long ashes.
Hey Lew: It’s been decades! Call me.
I have heard tremendous things about you from a mutual friend of yours, Mr Bernheim. I can speak for the masses we all love JR Cigars, and what you provided to the Cigar community.
I am thoroughly looking forward to checking this blog for more stories and updates. Be well.
Marcus Tinnell
Manna Cigars