OUR STORY
How It All Started
In 2019, Shaun and a group of close friends launched the Bluff City Cigar Club, a monthly subscription that delivered five boutique cigars to members’ homes. The club quickly grew beyond what they ever expected. Out of those growing pains, Shaun’s wife and best friend, Tracy Payne, began encouraging him to take the next step—opening a cigar lounge that would spotlight smaller boutique companies often overlooked in the industry, yet deeply loved by Shaun and many others around him. The vision was to create something different from what Memphis already had: a welcoming place where everyone could belong, where weary souls could find rest, and where community could grow around a shared love of boutique tobacco.
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Tracy’s confidence sparked Shaun’s, and he reached out to his favorite cigar lounge, Smokers Abbey in Nashville, to speak with its founder, Joshua Stump, about how to make it happen. After their conversation, the vision became reality. Shaun, Tracy, and their good friend Elliot began building the Abbey in Memphis in the midst of 2020. On October 31, 2020, they opened the doors with their very first event—laying the foundation for what would become a thriving community.
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From the beginning, the heart of Smokers Abbey Memphis has been about far more than cigars. It’s about unreasonable Southern hospitality, where service extends well beyond the purchase. Our tobacconists don’t just sell cigars—they guide, listen, and often lead guests from disappointment to delight by helping them discover something in the humidor they never even knew they were looking for.
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In 2025, after a difficult season, Elliot chose to step away permanently. That same year, Brady Grant stepped in as Shaun’s new partner. Brady has been a close friend of Shaun’s since seventh grade and a loyal supporter of the Abbey Memphis since day one. With Brady’s passion and commitment, the Abbey’s original vision is being carried forward and strengthened for the future.
Today, Shaun and Brady share a mission: to build a deep community around boutique tobacco and to help people find true rest for their souls through the Abbey. We remain dedicated to curating a humidor filled with the finest boutique cigars, honoring the past while protecting the future of cigar culture in Memphis and beyond.
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More than anything, we are here to welcome you—to create a place where you can slow down, connect, and find rest for your soul.
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Welcome to the Abbey. We can’t wait to see you walk through the doors so you can find rest for your soul.
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OUR VISION
Our Desire
We challenge the status quo of the cigar culture by redefining what the experience can be with a lounge. Our humidor is thoughtfully curated with small-batch, boutique cigars that celebrate the artistry of the craft. Every guest who walks through our doors is welcomed into a community built with intention—where weary souls can find rest, connection, and belonging. We honor cigar culture, ensuring its legacy while shaping its future, and we create memorable moments through unmatched service and unreasonable southern hospitality. Guided by knowledgeable tobacconists who will help you find what you didn’t know you were looking for.
OUR MISSION
Our Passion
“Building community around boutique cigars, in a place where souls find rest."
We're driven by a love for humanity and the art of fine tobacco. The humidors at Smokers Abbey are a testament to discerning tastes, housing only the finest small-batch cigars from boutique producers. We’re a space for community, knowing full well that a cigar can kindle profound conversations and help forge meaningful relationships. Our lounges beckon with warmth and familiarity; and if you're ever curious about a product, our monks are always available to help guide your tobacco journey.
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