It’s been a fixture in Hamilton, Ohio, for all of my life and all of my parents’ lives, and then some. For 98 years, Tom’s Cigar Shop has been a mom and pop store, opened 365 days per year. Yes, 365 days each year. We feel badly for the folks who work on holidays; but at the same time many of us are thankful that the forgotten batteries could be purchased on Christmas Day or an eyeglass screw secured on the way to church on Easter Sunday.

For the residents of Hamilton, a part of the daily routine is now gone. The reasons may matter, though nothing can change them now. The bottom line is that there are no more of those “emergency” visits to Tom’s or even the social visits to say hi, check up on the town news, or enjoy encouragement from the owner of the last 50 years.

Now what? Kids will cry because their toys will not chug, sing, or fly; and a decision has to be made as to whether or not the eyeglasses are a necessity for church. Where will the “family” conversations take place? Is there a welcoming place nearby that will allow loitering for these important relationships?

Tom’s Cigar Shop is more than a place to purchase a hardware item, bag of chips, or gallon of milk. It’s a place of love, acceptance, encouragement, and advice.

Tom’s Cigar Shop is more than a place to purchase a hardware item, bag of chips, or gallon of milk. It’s a place of love, acceptance, encouragement, and advice. May the people who are affected by this closing find what they need in another setting.

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NIV