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Hannibal, Mo - Soon Tri-State cigar lovers won't have to travel far to enjoy their favorite stogie.

When Wesley Knapp moved to Hannibal to become the city's Director of Downtown Development, he brought his love of cigars with him. But with no smoke shops around, Knapp was traveling to large cities and searching online for his favorite treat.  He wasn't alone.

Knapp said, "There are a lot of cigar smokers. We're in the closet but they're starting to come out of the woodwork."

Now Knapp hopes to cater to the wants of Tri-State tobacco lovers by opening of his very own smoke shop called the Havannibal Cigar Company at 308 Broadway in Hannibal. But perhaps the best part of his venture is how it's revived history in downtown Hannibal.

Knapp said, "This was originally a cigar company in the early 1900s called Eichenberger Cigar Company.  They had a factory next door and this was the retail store. The building was already intact from the early 1900s. The beautiful woodwork was here; the metal walls were here. I saw it and fell in love with it and took it on right away."

The shop also features the Eichenberger's original furnishings, like the cash register.

Knapp found another hidden jewel stored above the Golden Ruler next door: the orginal humidor cases buried in inches of dust.

Elegant shelves inside the small shop will soon be filled with up to 50 different brands of cigars in all sizes, including Cuban cigars imported before the embargo. Accessories like lighters, cutters and humidors also will be available for purchase.

Humidor lockers and an elegant smoking room reminiscent of days gone by will be located behind the retail area.

Hours at the Havannibal Cigar Company are as follows: Fridays from 6-9p.m. and Saturdays from 10a.m. to 6p.m.  You can find the shop at 308 Broadway in Hannibal.