Just 30 minutes east of Raleigh sits a unique new spot where hobby and history come together. Part museum, part boutique, its world-class humidor is stocked with rare and premium finds for every level of aficionado.
This is Wendell Cigar Co., and while the products lining the shelves are remarkable, they’re just part of the story. Housed in the historic Monk-Henderson Tobacco Company building, dating to 1907, its walls can, and do, talk.
“This building has been part of Wendell’s story for over a century,” says Jason Stegall, founder of Wendell Cigar Co. “We didn’t want to just occupy it — we wanted to give something back to it. This shop is our way of saying thank you to the farmers and families who built this town with their hands, long before anyone thought to call it heritage.”
We caught up with Jason for a look inside the box.
Introduce yourself!
My name is Jason Stegall, Raleigh native with family roots back to Warrenton, NC. I work in commercial real estate development for last 30+ years until recently discovering my passion for premium tobacco, cigars, and history. I live and work in downtown Wendell.
How did the idea of a cigar shop/museum develop?
While researching the history of downtown Wendell for Third Street Apollo, an adaptive reuse project our real estate company is developing, I came across these remarkable photographs from Wendell’s “golden years.”
From the 1930s through the 1960s, downtown Wendell was an important center of the tobacco trade in Wake County and Eastern North Carolina. Tobacco warehouses, farmers, buyers, and related businesses were an integral part of the town’s economy and identity.
The building we are restoring was once home to the Monk Henderson Tobacco Company and is now home to Wendell Cigar Co. Our goal is to thoughtfully restore the property’s original character while preserving and sharing the history of the people who worked here.
As I began meeting longtime members of the community and hearing their stories about Wendell’s tobacco heritage, the idea for Wendell Cigar Co. began to take shape. I saw an opportunity to honor that history by bringing premium tobacco back to downtown Wendell in a new and respectful way.
The connection is also personal. My family grew tobacco in Warrenton, North Carolina, and my father has enjoyed cigars for as long as I can remember. He taught my brother and me how to appreciate a fine cigar, and sharing cigars together remains a tradition we cherish today. Wendell Cigar Co. is our small way of preserving the past, celebrating the present, and helping keep Wendell’s tobacco story alive for future generations.
Tobacco has a rich history in North Carolina. Tell us a little bit about how Wendell fits into the story.
Wendell has deep roots in North Carolina’s tobacco history. It became Wake County’s first tobacco market, and the town’s growth was closely tied to tobacco farmers who migrated east in the late 1800s after Granville Wilt devastated crops in other parts of the state. They discovered favorable growing conditions in the Wendell area, and tobacco went on to play an important role in shaping the community for generations. That heritage is still celebrated today through Wendell’s annual Harvest Festival each October, one of the town’s largest community events.
Where do you source your products? Any notable items you’d like to highlight?
We source premium tobacco and cigars from some of the world’s most respected growing regions and cigar-making communities, including Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Africa, Miami — and even Wendell, North Carolina.
One project we’re especially excited about involves tobacco grown locally in Wendell. The leaf was sent to the Dominican Republic, where it is currently undergoing fermentation and aging with the goal of eventually incorporating it into a special Wendell Cigar Co. blend. It’s a unique opportunity to connect Wendell’s tobacco-growing past with the next chapter of its story.
We also recently had the opportunity to provide Valacari Cigars, one of the boutique brands featured in our shop, for the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup celebration — another fun example of how we’re bringing premium cigars and local community experiences together. We also feature many of our shop friends’ cigars when they make custom blends using the best blenders and factories who source the most prized tobaccos. We always curate the finest cigars available with compelling stories behind them. Expect to see two new brands each month with multiple blends and lines from each brand. We are just getting started and have lots of exciting cigars coming to the community soon.
What can non tobacco enthusiasts get out of a visit to your shop?
We also have a Wendell Tobacco & Cigar Museum featuring historic photographs, artifacts, and stories that help preserve and share the town’s rich tobacco heritage. Each photograph includes historical context about the people, places, and businesses that helped shape Wendell’s tobacco industry.
The museum also explores the history and artistry of cigar packaging, including the beautiful labels and designs that have long been part of cigar culture. We even feature Abbina, a specialty soda created specifically to pair with premium cigars, offering visitors another unique way to experience and appreciate cigar culture.
Do you host any events?
Yes, we host monthly cigar brand events featuring brand owners, cigar makers, and industry representatives who share their knowledge of tobacco, blending, and the craftsmanship behind their cigars. Each event has its own theme and is designed to be both educational and enjoyable. We also often partner with beer or bourbon/rum/spirits companies to offer tastings and introduce guests to pairings that complement the featured cigars. Another unique event this fall is with Plasencia and is a “component tasting” where the cigar is deconstructed and you get to smoke each component of the cigar (wrapper, binder, filler) to learn about what is driving the flavor and combustion of the cigar. These types of events full up fast, so get your tickets when you see them available.
Any suggestions for people coming in from out of town who want to make a day trip out of it?
We recommend visiting Tuesday through Saturday, when most of downtown Wendell’s businesses are open. Make a day of it and explore the community! Some of our local favorites include a “Sport Burger” or hot dog all-the-way at Aubrey & Peedie’s for lunch, coffee from Parallax Coffee Lab, the Salmon Smørrebrød at Farmhouse Café, or dinner at Everest Kitchen — the cheese naan, pakora, tikka masala, and mango lassi are favorites.
Anything else you’d like to add?
We especially welcome people who are new to premium cigars and interested in learning more about the craft. Our goal is to make the experience approachable, comfortable, and educational — there’s no need to know anything about cigars before walking through our doors.
Our team is knowledgeable, patient, and always happy to guide guests through the humidor, explain different tobaccos and flavor profiles, and help them find a cigar they’ll enjoy. Our staff includes Tucker Hobbie, our Operations Manager and Certified Cigar Sommelier, along with tobacconists Chad Peaden and Dana Howe.
