JC Newman Factory Renovation
The JC Newman El Reloj Factory in Ybor City, Tampa, FL, is undergoing a dramatic renovation to create a destination for cigar lovers. JC Newman is the maker of premium cigars including Diamond Crown, Brickhouse, and the newly released The American. JC Newman also produces value priced cigars including Decision, El Reloj, Factory Throwouts, Mexican Segundos, Tampa Trolleys, and Trader Jacks.
The renovation begins in mid-August, and the current cigar museum is closed until the restoration is complete in early 2020. The grand reopening coincides with the 125thanniversary of the company. When complete, the upgraded facility will feature an unparalled experience in the United States. The new cigar museum on the first floor of the historic building will be three times the size of the original museum, featuring family exhibits, a history of cigars and tobacco exhibit, and a variety of educational movies and audio clips.
The second floor will feature a theater dedicated to films about cigars and the third floor will be home to the new premium handmade cigar factory with cigar rollers, blenders, bunchers, inspectors, etc. The factory floor will focus on making the new The American cigar made exclusively of tobacco from the United States.
Additionally, the new and improved factory experience will include a rolling school to teach cigar lovers how to roll a decent looking, or perhaps a less than decent looking cigar if you roll like I do. JC Newman is also opening a factory-direct store so you can buy your favorite cigars when you visit.
Below is a video about the renovation:
The JC Newman El Reloj Factory is located at the edge of Ybor City at 2701 Sixteenth Street, Tampa, FL 33605. JC Newman was founded in 1895 and is the oldest and heck, the only true cigar factory left in the United States.
In addition to premium cigars, JC Newman makes value-priced cigars using semi-automated machines that are one of a kind. The machines work in concert with the factory workers. These machines are absolutely amazing. Check out a video from Halfwheel showing the machines at work.
Here’s what JC Newman has to say about their factory:
“In 1954, J.C. Newman Cigar Company moved from Cleveland, Ohio to the historic El Reloj factory in Tampa, Florida. Built in 1910, El Reloj serves as the international headquarters for J.C. Newman and is the only factory still manufacturing cigars in Cigar City.
In anticipation of the company’s 125th anniversary and the factory’s 110th anniversary, our iconic factory is undergoing a restoration project to highlight its historic beauty.
Due to this, visiting hours at our existing museum have been temporarily suspended. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes you, but rest assured that when we reopen in early 2020, the wait will have been worth it.
In addition to an expanded museum, our public areas will also include a retail store, hand-rolling area, and many interactive experiences. Between our self-guided and docent-led tour options, you will be able to peek into the past to see how our family persevered through the years, learn more about the industry which built Tampa and experience the artistry of cigar making first hand.
Our hope is that El Reloj becomes a destination for cigar and history lovers alike Whether you smoke daily or have never before picked up a cigar, we will have something for everyone.
We invite you to take a virtual tour of the factory by visiting our Google Business View page here. Stay up to date on the construction process and the reopening of our museum by signing up for our mailing list below.”
Check out our guide to visiting Ybor City HERE. A future update will definitely include a visit to JC Newman!
