The Original Tinder Box

I dropped an hours worth of coins in the meter, as I was excited to shop around in THE ORIGINAL TINDER BOX (Since 1928) The place looks like grandma’s attic. It it is old, dusty, unkempt and has a fairly uninteresting assortment of pipes (I’m sure they don’t sell many) and a seriously poor pipe tobacco selection. most of the display cases are half empty. there is a cigar humidor and some cool framed displays of vintage pipes. After about 5 minutes I went back to the car…

Came in to search up a few cigars but a new shipment was due for later same day. Leo was helpful and suggested I drop by later on, which I most definitely will.
Managed to pick up a set of ten cigarette tar filters for $ 3.20 exact.
Overall, great selection (just call to make sure they have what you want that day, save yourself a trip and headache) and great prices. The fun trinkets and memorabilia are also a great reason to come in and get a gift for a special occasion.
PS: if they don’t have what you are looking for, they will be more than happy to help you locate a shop that carries said item or special order it for you. Don’t be afraid to ask.

Had a great experience buying tobacco as a gift. I had no idea what I was doing and they gave me so much advice and many samples! Plus, I grew up around the corner and have always loved having such an old establishment around.

Avoid.
This place is rundown, poorly ventilated and not well stocked. The sole person in the store was neither friendly nor helpful, was unkempt and un-​bathed. He was not rude, but not interested if I was there or not. He was of no assistance at all other than to point in the direction of the humidor. This shop might have been nice once but not any longer.
I was in from out of town for a wedding and this is one of three or four places that popped up with good reviews. I am not sure I understand why.
I was left to navigate the humidor on my own. I consider myself very knowledgeable about cigars so I was not intimidated by this. However, the humidor is filled with empty boxes and very few cigars. They have very few choices and what they have are large to massive ring gauged cigars.
To get an idea of what this place is like now, go to Google Maps and look at the street view of this business.

This establishment is a classic fallen on hard times.
It appears that after the owner died a year+ ago, a relative with no knowledge on how to run the business or even a love of tobacco has taken over running it. So they are selling off the inventory and the store will shut down soon. I’m sure the real estate will be sold.
The employees are awesome, i feel horrible for them. I was in there looking for cigars to buy as a present. Their selection is horrible today. They don’t have much on order as they are winding down inventory.
I can only hope the owner sells the place to someone who would know what to do with it.
Sad.

Great ambience in the place and contrary to other reviewer I’ve always found the guys here perfectly friendly but when you drive across town for cigars and they have NONE left in stock it makes you wonder how they’re still in business. Wasted trip and I won’t be returning.

What a classic.
I’m not a huge cigar smoker, but from time to time I’ll partake with some friends while BS’ing about life. Honestly, I don’t know much of anything about cigars — ie. brands, strength, history, etc. — so I usually just stick in the $ 5 – 8 range.
The Original Tinder Box is the perfect cigar shop for people like me. It’s classic, been around forever, and they know their stuff. The guys working here all have long, grey beards, incredibly snarly voices (probably from smoking their entire lives), and look like they could rip your head off with one hand. Looks can be deceiving though, because each of these guys is incredibly nice and actually enjoys sharing their vast knowledge of cigars with anyone willing to listen.
The small shop has lots of trinkets, antiques, beer mugs, lighters, and other smoking accessories (no bongs, glass pipes, or stoner stuff). The guy that helped us showed us an assortment of his favorite cigars and I picked a couple for my friend and I. If you’d like, they’ll also cut the cigars for you before you leave (as the guy says, «just a little snip, like a circumcision»).
Because our stogies were already cut and they don’t have a lounge inside, we smoked these bad boys in the rear parking lot. Allowed? Who knows. Regardless, we finished our cancer causers and were on our way.

At one time this was one of the best places in town. Today it is expensive with a poor selection.

Worse attitude ever… I don’t get it when you walk into a store and they treat you like they just want you to leave?! Not coming back

Went in to purchase a pipe and some tobacco for a friend and ended up getting a piping 101 class! Mr B. helped pick out a reasonably priced pipe (which were way more expensive that I originally had thought), some tobacco and a tamper. He, a loyal customer and I had a pipe sesh together and had a cool talk. This place is great and has an awsome feel, originally opening in 1948!

I loved this place.
Visited for my first time last night to prepare for a cigar night with friends.
Tudor & Brian taught me all about cigar etiquette and answered every question. They didn’t make me feel like an idiot. Cigars are more expensive than I anticipated, but I didn’t feel that they were trying to force a sale. I got great advice and insight in to the cigar culture.
I was literally there for an hour while they taught me:
— use wooden matches and let the ignitor burn off
— don’t remove the band until the glue gets heated and can be peeled off
— make sure it burns evenly as the cigar proceeds
— and way more
If I was into this scene, I’m not sure why I’d go to any other business.
I will definitely come back here again, a classy place to be.
I can see how someone who came in treating them and their establishment poorly would have a bad experience.

Great Tobacco #19 and Continental 51 are good starting out smokes. Got my first pipe the other day and im very happy. Check out my pic

The Tinderbox is the only tobacco shop in Los Angeles County that I still spend money at. Here’s why:
1: The staff are all old timers who know what they are talking about and will help you learn everything you need to know. Mr. B even gave me a free class on pipe smoking (we set up an appointment and everything). Sure, some of them are a bit rough around the edges and I imagine they don’t suffer fools well, but if you come in there both giving and expecting respect and with an open mind and don’t act like an arrogant ass, you’ll get excellent service.
2: Their cigar selection, while not massive, is pretty good (recently it’s been pretty bad; I think they are having trouble with their suppliers, but usually it’s more than sufficient). And their prices, comparatively speaking, are very reasonable: I live in West LA and all the head shops masquerading as tobacconists charge more for the same products. And their pipe tobacco selection and pipes are fantastic.
3: The old school atmosphere and history of the place is fun as hell.
4: The snooty, opinionated, superiority-​complex dick-​waving that so frequently is associated with the cigar crowd doesn’t seem to filter in here very often, if ever. It’s just a bunch of folks enjoying a mutual interest.
I will say that I’ve never been to Hollywood Smoke, but I’ve been to pretty much every other tobacco shop mentioned on this page in comparison to the Tinder Box. And I’ve read the bad reviews on here and can say with confidence that I was very surprised to hear anyone complain about the staff here, since I’ve had nothing but good experiences. The only thing I’m disappointed about with the shop is that in recent weeks their cigar selection seems to have been cut in half or more, and that they don’t as frequently give out their own store brand of matches anymore (which are some of the best wood matches I’ve found). I imagine the reason for this is supply related.

I totally agree with all of the reviews about feeling like interrupting a clubhouse. I had no idea what I was doing, and I’m obviously a college female to boot. Luckily the owner (?) was super understanding, and chose 5 cigars from the very terrible description I gave him. He rounded the price down (what? I thought I wasn’t in Kansas anymore), which was fantastic, and called it a day. I’ll be back every holiday until I move.
There were some teenage boys that walked in and were very disappointed to find out there was no chewing tobacco here… pipes, cigars and accessories, people.
Come here!

Great place for excellent cigars!
Met Tudor who works there and was real helpful!
They carry a full line of Dunhill and ST Dupont items!
Very vintage and cigar look feel!

I love this spot. The staff is great and I like their house blends.
My girlfriend went here for my first pipe on my birthday years ago and I’ve been smoking it regularly on special occasions ever since.
Mr.B helped her pick it out. — they asked all sorts of questions about my demeanor, my complexion, how big my hands are — and settled on a pipe that’s still my favorite after a long time. What’s more, they told me to come in and have a smoke with them to learn how to pack it and so on. I’m a younger guy with no uncles or grandfathers to show me the ropes so this was really appreciated.
Now every time I come in for more tobacco I remember to bring my pipe. «You can’t come to school without books!» says Mr. B, and we have a nice smoke together.
Some other reviews say the staff and customer service is shitty, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. You have to understand these are some old school guys. They’re in their sixties or older and they’ve watched LA grow over half a century. They can’t be bothered with shitty Beverly Hills attitudes. They’ll go to the moon for you if you have common courtesy.

Very neat little place. I’ve driven by many times but never went in until today. This was my first real foray into the pipe world so I wanted to get a good pipe with good tobacco. Since I’m not a regular smoker (I enjoy one every now and then with a good glass of whiskey), Mr. B took time to discuss what kinds of tobacco would be good and got me started on the art of pipe smoking. He helped me pick out a pipe that was in my price range although there are definitely ones up in the hundreds. Never pushy or trying to sell me something I didn’t want. He also gave me an intro packing, lighting, and smoking the pipe.
There’s a small private lot in the back off of Harvard which is great since parking in Santa Monica can be a nightmare. But there’s also plenty of street parking in the neighbourhood for up to 2 hours. Definitely will be coming back to pick up more cleaners and tobacco.

I dropped 3 antique art deco lighters for servicing. Todor, their on-​site repair man, didn’t return my calls for almost 2 years.
Finally, I reached him by phone and he told be that he’s looking for my lighters.
Months go by. I continue to call monthly trying to reach him. The other employees seems sad and bemused by my situation. That is to say, they do nothing to help.
Finally I reach Tudor and he assures me that the lighters are ready and tells me to come get them. When I arrive, the other store folk can’t locate the lighters. Repeat this situation 3 times. Tudor (who, apparently is only there an arbitrary 2 hours a week!!) assuring me by phone that my lighters are there and ready. No one at the store (where I’ve driven 30 miles to pick up) is able to locate my antiques.
This has gone on for over 2 YEARS!
Every time I call, the grumps on the phone tell me they’re looking into it. They pretend to take my name and number and never get back to me.
I love the old school vibe of this place and I am sad that such a lovely old establishment will die… but as evolution goes so goes shitty customer service and a lack of interest. The fact that almost 3 years ago I dropped these off and no one will find them is reason enough for this place to die.

I used to live up the street from this place and I have been smoking cigars for a decade. The fat, sloppy jerk behind the counter is rude, pretentious, and arrogant. I think their prices are very good, but I’ll gladly pay more money to support a business with well informed and friendly staff. Every time I have gone here, I walk out annoyed with the way I was treated. Why did I keep going back you ask? I guess I am a glutton for punishment.

I have renewed my love of this store.
Any retail store that will talk me out of a purchase because I am clearly making the purchase for the wrong reason, or for a silly reason will retain my business for ever.
Aside from that, their staff is kind and knowledgable, and the locals who hang around add a certain something to the store. Banter. They add Banter.
So lets see.
Mix in a great selection of tobacco and their willingness to spend time with you to figure out what you like, you’ve got a winner.