Chit-Chat: Cigar connoisseurs have smokin’ new location

Sam Khalil presents for cigar lovers an elegantly housed collection of rare and vintage finds at Casa de Montecristo in Countryside, fitted with such amenities as a smoking lounge, VIP lounge and theater. The Burr Ridge resident also operates 8 To 8 Cigars in Villa Park.

Casa de Montecristo opened on Super Bowl Sunday in Countryside, where owners Sam Khalil (above) and his uncle, Mike, have cigar smokers’ needs covered. STAFF PHOTOS BY BILL ACKERMAN

Talk about your newest enterprise and your collaboration with the makers of Montecristo cigars.
The largest cigar manufacturer in the world, Altadis U.S.A., teamed up with us. It took us about 14 months to build. I had to travel to four different countries — Dubai, Turkey, Germany, the U.S. — to come up with the best design.

Cigars age in a special humidor at the Casa de Montecristo cigar store.
 
How many cigars do you carry and what lines of accessories?
We have over 200 brands of cigars, and over 3,000 different sizes — from $1 a piece all the way to $500 a cigar. Accessories (are by) S.T. Dupont, Porsche, Lotus, Xikar and Lamborghini.

Describe the store’s layout and amenities.
The first floor is basically retail, (with) walk-in humidors (and) cabinets for the loose cigars. There’s a lounge where people can smoke cigars, with coffee and (soft drinks). Downstairs, we have a 4,000-square-foot VIP lounge, with a movie theater in it, a conference room, an elevator … (climate-controlled) lockers to store cigars in, and a vacuum-sealed closet for winter coats, so smoke won’t penetrate. The look of the club is like a speakeasy, (replete with) tin ceiling. In the summertime, we’ll be opening our patio.

The vintage room at Casa de Montecristo is stocked with hard-to-find items like these La Flor Dominicana cigars.

Explain the mystique of aged cigars.
Cigars are like wine; the more you age them, the better they taste. There is something special about our humidors. Each humidification system has a separate heating and air conditioning unit to control climate in there. (Note: Khalil also created a Cuban-style aging room.)

What are some of the more unusual items you offer?
What many factory owners actually smoke. The tobacco is very rare. I said, ‘Don’t be greedy. I want that for my customers.’

Experience a great cigar

WHAT Casa de Montecristo grand opening festivities
WHEN Thursday, April 29 and Saturday, May 1
WHERE 1332 W. 55th St., Countryside; www.casademontecristo-chicago.com
DETAILS On April 29, Altadis U.S.A.’s (Montecristo cigar makers) CEO and other executives will be on hand at the store that afternoon, and at a special dinner that evening
APRIL DINNER  RESERVATIONS (708) 352-6668
SISTER LOCATION 8 To 8 Cigars, 300 E. St. Charles Road, Villa Park; (630) 993-1234
WEB ORDERS www.topqualitycigars.com