For 30 years time, Cigar Studio has occupied the same corner of Etobicoke where Jerry Hartman first opened its doors in 1996.
What began as a modest neighborhood tobacconist steadily evolved into one of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area)’s most recognizable cigar destinations, now guided by owners Kes Michaelides and Michael Murray, who assumed ownership of the shop roughly five years ago when Hartman handed over the torch to retire.
Under their watch, Cigar Studio has become known as much for spectacle as for selling cigars. The retailer’s events, which are typically staged at venues throughout the GTA, have earned a reputation for blending premium cigars with a big sense of celebration. Jazz bands swing through the evening, cabaret dancers weave through the crowd and celebrity chefs plate multi-course dinners, all in service of creating an atmosphere that feels more like a gala than a common cigar event.
The shop’s 30th anniversary celebration on April 30th, 2026 carried that familiar jubilant spirit. 250 guests gathered for a sold-out evening anchored by a multi-course dinner from Chef Luciano Shimano, while pours of Writer’s Tears Irish whiskey, Barcelo Rum, Maison Gaultier Cognac and Santa Margherita wines topped up the glassware. A lively jazz ensemble provided the event’s soundtrack as dancers moved across the room, giving the evening an old-world prohibition-era sensibility.
Guests were greeted with a cigar pack featuring releases from Esteban Carreras, Macanudo and Moose Kicks (a Canadian exclusive) alongside a special commemorative Cigar Studio 30th Anniversary blend rolled with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers.
Perhaps the evening’s most meaningful moment came when Hartman himself appeared before the crowd while Kes Michaelides raised a toast to the founder whose west-end shop helped shape Toronto’s modern cigar culture 30 years ago.
And for those who preferred conversation to all-out partying, a sprawling patio offered a quieter refuge. Amid the uptempo music and revelry, Cigar Studio still understands the simple pleasure that is at the heart of cigar enjoyment: good company and a great cigar.
