Our History
The History Chronologically – Numbers, Dates, Facts
World War II, reconstruction, the post-war economic boom, a pandemic, and so much more – a lot has happened since our founding in 1935.
A Brief History
1935 and the Early Years
The history of cigar culture in Bad Wimpfen began in 1935. The German economy was still thriving, and August Klenk decided to take advantage of the pre-war economic boom by opening a cigar shop. However, his first attempt to obtain a business license failed, and his dream seemed to be shattered before he had even sold a single cigar. But August refused to give up. He traveled 120 km (one way) to Frankfurt with his lawyer and a horse-drawn carriage to successfully "fight" for his business license. From then on, he traded in tobacco and fine cigars. People proudly showed off their possessions, and cigars were among them. Grandpa wore a tailcoat and top hat, while Grandma draped a fox fur around her neck. It was a nostalgic, dignified time.
When the war broke out, August, like countless others, was drafted into the military, sharing the devastating fate of many. It would take ten long years before he could return home (he came home "without a scratch"). During his absence, his wife Elsa managed the shop while raising their son, Manfred Klenk, who would later lead as the second generation of the business. Thanks to her hard work and the support of family and friends, they were able to navigate those difficult years. Upon August's return from captivity, they rolled up their sleeves and gradually transformed their small tobacco shop into a thriving and resilient business, enduring both triumphs and setbacks along the way.
1950s and 1960s
The challenging years of war and its aftermath were followed by the economic boom. Within the family business, a solid structure developed, one that was approached with great seriousness. The motto "Those who work together, can work hard!" became a cornerstone of their approach.
In the 1960s, son Manfred and his wife Helga joined the business and expanded the product offerings. Alongside tobacco and accessories, they began trading in a variety of other goods, while the cigar trade took a temporary step back.
1970s, 1980s, and 1990s
The 70s, 80s, and 90s were vibrant, crazy, diverse, and interesting decades. The tobacco business continued to thrive—cigarettes and fine-cut tobacco were the trends. The Cigar House had grown into a trading company.
While the 90s were still heavily influenced by cigarette tobacco, Jochen Klenk, the emerging third generation, was ready to carry the family legacy forward. Driven by his passion for quality long-filler cigars, he reconnected with the company's roots and followed the footprints of Opa August’s.
Millennium / 2000s
The new cigar trend brought more high-quality cigars to the German market, and the demand for Caribbean long-fillers increased. The walk-in climate-controlled room was expanded to accommodate the growing range.
By mid-2005, it became clear once again that Opa August’s idea of creating a space for good tobacco and a home for cigar enthusiasts was timeless. Jochen Klenk now faced the challenge of combining tradition, passion, and top-tier service while paying attention to detail - strictly following the motto "Quality over Quantity." The shift back to Opa’s legacy was starting to take shape.
Cigars were once again placed at the center of attention and gradually became the main product. With our mobile cigar lounge, we participated in prestigious events such as the German Media Awards, the Ball of Sports, the National Press Ball, and many others. We also began supplying the hospitality industry, and to this day, we are proud to serve many satisfied clients. Our clients range from Michelin-starred chefs, 5-star hotels (across Europe), prominent private clients (including a former U.S. president), major corporations, and even Bundesliga football clubs.
2014
Due to growing interest, Jochen Klenk quickly realized that a space for connoisseurs was missing in the Cigar House! So, he embarked on an inspirational journey, first to the beautiful city of Vienna, and then to the vibrant Havana. Drawing from the experiences and impressions he gathered, the specialty shop concept and the newly added cigar lounge, "Augusto Lounge" (named after August Klenk), were created. The lounge was designed to serve as a meeting point for connoisseurs from all parts of society.
2015
2016
2017
2018
Since true enjoyment can't be fully experienced online, we made the decision to become a "Premium Offline-Shop," where smelling, tasting, and fascination are highly encouraged. This also allowed us to offer even better service to our loyal customers and hospitality partners. Anyone who sees it is amazed! Since April 2018, our "Kistenlader" (box loader) has already been a highlight at many events (an old German Mercedes hearse)!
2020
After beginning the year with our 2nd Gentlemen’s Night, the COVID-19 pandemic quickly disrupted our plans. The specialty shop and Augusto Lounge had to close their doors for an indefinite period. However, with Click&Collect and numerous deliveries to our loyal customers, we managed to stay afloat. Despite the challenges, there was still good news. In addition to being ranked among the Top 10 specialty stores in Germany by the trade magazine finetobacco, our branding received the German Design Award from our advertising agency. While our 85th anniversary was overshadowed by the pandemic, we were proud to see three more Klenk Cigar Lounges open outside Bad Wimpfen.
2021
2022
The year 2022 started cautiously, but the renovation work in the building gradually came to completion. In record time, a tobacco specialist store transformed into one of the world's first and only four-story cigar house.
On May 1st, 2022, we launched the new website, www.zigarrenkultur.de, bringing all our new areas and lounges online.
In the fall, we introduced our digital ticket sales via Diginights. Since then, all of our events can be conveniently booked online. On November 13, 2022, to celebrate August Klenk's 120th birthday, we proudly introduced our first in-house rum, the Ron Augusto 1935 Family Reserve. Distilled in May 2005 in Venezuela, aged for 17 years, unsweetened, uncolored, and unfiltered—at a powerful 59.7%, bottled straight from the cask into one of just 238 bottles!
2023
After Covid was finally behind us, we resumed our event planning. After all, a cigar house like ours needs to be enjoyed and experienced! Highlights of the year included the Open House Party, Smoke on the Neckar, The Roof is on Fire, our late summer festival, and Cuban Night—alongside our tastings and cigar evenings. A particularly memorable moment was the Cuban Night, featuring the legendary Torcedora, Juana "Juanita" Ramos Guerra.
2024
We kicked off 2024 with our Gentlemen’s Night, followed by numerous tastings and cigar evenings. We had the pleasure of welcoming various Master Blenders, Sales Managers, and other experts. One of the highlights was undoubtedly the visit of Mark Reynier, founder of the Waterford Distillery & Renegade Rum Distillery, who captivated our guests over two consecutive evenings with his stories and visions.
On July 27, 2024, we hosted our first Whisky Fest, attracting around 160 visitors who enjoyed exploring offerings from 10 exhibitors. The event was so well-received that we’ve already scheduled the second one for July 26, 2025—be sure to mark your calendars!
In conjunction with the Whisky Fest, we also launched our first-ever Cigar Malt. This exquisite single malt from the HeiligenBergFeld Distillery in Bavaria underwent over three years of full maturation in an Oloroso Sherry cask, with a strength of 57.8% bottled into just 101 bottles.
