Lounge Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cigar Selection: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pipe Selection: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pipe Tobacco Selection: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Review
I have been going to Arlington Pipe and Cigar for 30 years. I have seen it grow and change into one of the premier lounges in the Chicagoland area. Chris Nichols, the current owner, has turned this shop around. He brought in Amu Torres as an in-store tobacconist and has more than tripled his pipe business. Arlington always had a solid pipe business, but Chris has built a room dedicated to all things pipe and pipe tobacco. With over 350 tinned tobaccos, 50 bulk blends and 300 pipes in stock, Arlington stands out as a retailer dedicated to meeting the needs of the pipe community.
On the area of cigars I am no expert, but Arlington has over 25,000 sticks in stock, which ain’t too shabby. Their humidor and aging room are maintained daily to guarantee the quality of their inventory. The service at Arlington is great. The staff are more than knowledgeable about their products. They know their tobaccos and can offer sound advice to the new comer and long time enthusiasts.
The Critique
Arlington, like many quality lounges, can be a victim of its own success. There are plenty of days when seating is maxed out. When the CPCC has a well attended meeting, we pack the place. Chris always has extra chairs on hand, and is always accommodating. There pipe inventory is extensive and hits most price ranges from the humble cob pipe, up to higher quality pipes like Ascorti, Eltang, and 4th Generation. That said, their estate pipe collection is very small at this time, but it is an area they are looking to grow. They are also working on building the independent pipe maker inventory as well.