Whether you loved or hated Thompson Cigars (and I found plenty of comments online from both sides), there is no disputing that Thompson and Company was a major player in the Tampa cigar industry.
Early years
*Full disclosure – The following timeline was blatantly ripped off from Thompson’s website because it was the only early info about the company I could find. I’ve added my subsequent research notes where applicable.
1915 – M.A. Thompson establishes Thompson Cigar Company in Key West, Florida, as a manufacturer and distributor of fine cigars.
*Research notes:
I also found these names for the company: Thompson & Company (name in Tampa); Thompson Brothers (Bros.) (name in Key West) and Thompson Cigar Co. (also name in Key West?). I also found one solitary clipping that lists a Mark A. Thompson as President of Thompson & Co.
1920 – After hurricanes decimate most cigar factories in Key West, M.A. Thompson moves his factory to Ybor City, Tampa, known as the “Cigar Capital of the World.” He brings a number of employees with him.
*Research notes:
M.A. Thompson must have neglected to tell everyone he was leaving because I found documentation showing that the people he left behind at Thompson & Co. were still cranking out cigars in 1922!
1926 – M.A. Thompson relocates his headquarters to 200 N. Edison Avenue, near downtown Tampa. This two story masonry building was built in 1923.
*Research notes:
He also had a company called “Standard Printing Company” registered to 204 N. Edison Ave. Standard Printing Company was dissolved in 1936.
1929 – Thompson acquired Postal Permit #1 in the city of Tampa.
1934 – M.A. Thompson moves his factory to 255 N. Third St., Bartow, Florida where the company maintained production until 1960.
A new era
According to Stanford Newman in his book “Cigar Family A 100 Year Journey In the Cigar Industry”, he assisted his friend, Robert Franzblau in purchasing the Thompson Cigar Company in 1960. While Franzblau bought the company, he declined to purchase the Bartow factory building. Thus ended Thompson Cigar’s manufacturing business in Florida. They continued to sell their “Clear Havana” cigars until the inventory was depleted. The now-vacant Bartow building has been the center of a preservation debate for several years. In 2011, it had been listed among Florida’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Sites.
The administration of the business remained at 200 N. Edison Avenue.
Photo gallery (click images for full view)
- Top row: clippings from trade publications
- 2nd row: closeup of current state of Bartow factory; M.A. Thompson; Bartow factory in its heyday
- 3rd row: Trade publication clipping, retail ad, trademark notification
- 4th row: Current state of admin bldg, 1939 cigar box, trade publication ad
- 5th row: 1939 Box photos from my personal collection
- Bottom row: 1953 photo of admin bldg
In the beginning of Franzblau’s ownership, Newman’s M&N Cigar Manufacturers was the exclusive cigar manufacturer for Thompson. At some point, 20 percent of M&N’s production was allocated to Thompson. Stanford felt the two companies were too dependent on each other so, Stanford introduced Bob to some of his competitors.
1982 – Expansion led Bob Franzblau to permanently establish corporate headquarters at 5401 Hangar Court in Tampa. Throughout the years and a few renovations, this location had the single largest inventory storage humidor in the United States, totaling over 300,000 cubic feet. During this period in the company’s history, Thompson Cigar distributed private label cigars, national cigar brands, boutique cigars, humidors, and smoking accessories.
The end
In 2018, Thompson Cigars was purchased by the Scandinavian Tobacco Group. It remained in business at the Tampa location until mid-2019 when STG began laying off employees. After 104 years of Florida based business, Tampa operations ceased permanently in December of 2019.
.[su_box title=”…and now for a little fun…” style=”soft” box_color=”#e1dddd”]I’ve never had such difficulty researching a particular cigar company or owner as I have had with the subjects of this post.
There is almost nothing documented about M.A. Thompson. No birth/death records or information about him starting Thompson and Co. I barely found mentions regarding the Key West business activities of the company.
I did find out quite a bit about another Key West based Thompson family.
The following are the crazy ideas that came to mind as I tried to put puzzle pieces together:
Lone Gunmen Theory #1 – MA Thompson, black sheep that had to leave Key West?
I found plenty of information on a trio of brothers that practically ruled Key West in the early 1900’s:
Norberg, Karl and Charles Thompson made up the most affluent family on Key West. I was able to piece together that at one time they owned a cigar box factory among many other businesses.
Norberg Thompson, the oldest was also elected Mayor of Key West in 1915. Charles Thompson was Ernest Hemingway’s BFF. Karl didn’t seem to do much of anything.
Was M.A. Thompson a wild rich kid that did something so reckless that it could possibly embarrass his brother, the mayor? Maybe he got shipped up north with a pile of cash and told to stay away? Did Karl change his name to M.A.?
I could see scenarios where something happened that could possibly stain the reputation of a prominent political figure. I don’t think there would be much that would shock Charles Thompson, since his best friend was Ernest Hemingway and they both most likely participated in / saw things much worse every day.
Lone Gunmen Theory #2 – Was Thompson & Co owned by this guy?
While I couldn’t find a M.A. Thompson, I did find a M.M. Thompson.
Milton M Thompson, Sr to be exact. He was born in 1892 in Key West, Florida. He listed his job as cigar maker while living in Key West. Later on in the 1920’s, M.M. Thompson shows up on another census as living in Tampa. He still lists his occupation as cigar maker. He died in 1966 at the age of 73 or 74 and was laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tampa, FL. Coincidence?
What do you think about these theories? Does anyone remember “The Lone Gunmen”? Is the truth out there? Let me know in the comments!
I WANT TO BELIEVE[/su_box]