by In the late 19th century, Detroit earned the nickname “Tampa of the North” due to its booming cigar industry. Detroit cigars became a sought-after commodity, benefiting from the city’s favorable business climate and distinctive manufacturing methods, which contributed to their unique flavor.
Like cigar making in Ybor City near Tampa, Florida, Detroit cigars gained prominence largely because local factories had access to abundant non-unionized labor, allowing them to maintain competitive pricing compared to unionized manufacturers. Renowned Detroit cigars and tobacco products included John J. Bagley’s Mayflower Chewing Tobacco and Daniel Scotten’s Hiawatha cigars. The demand was so high that production extended beyond Detroit to cities such as Marquette, Escanaba, and Kalamazoo.
In Kalamazoo, the B&B Cigar Co. notably promoted its La Zoos brand Detroit cigars through colorful and elaborate advertising imagery. These ads showcased leisurely scenes, capturing the elegance and sophistication associated with cigar culture at the time.
Meanwhile, Lansing maintained its traditional approach to producing Detroit cigars. Companies like the Queen Bee Cigar Company kept production unmechanized well into the 20th century, emphasizing handcraftsmanship. Workers meticulously rolled Detroit cigars by hand, underscoring the artisanal nature of the industry.
Historic advertisements, such as those by Globe Tobacco Co. in Detroit, highlighted the handmade quality of Detroit cigars. Globe’s marketing emphasized the advantages of handmade tobacco: agreeable flavor, gentle on the tongue, and superior durability.
Historic photographs reveal the labor-intensive process behind Detroit cigars, showing workers meticulously hand-rolling and packaging cigars in small-scale factory settings. These images highlight the artisanal nature of cigar making in Michigan, setting it apart from the mechanized production methods later adopted elsewhere.
