Tonino Cigar Shop Celebrates Grand Opening In Short Hills

MILLBURN, NJ — Dozens of business owners and community members recently joined Explore Millburn-Short Hills for a mixer to celebrate new business Tonino Cigars at 515B Millburn Ave., which opened last month.

The business was founded by Fernando Lopez, who spent most of his career in the Jersey City restaurant world, Explore said.

In late 2021, Lopez was seeking a location for his first venture into a business that would support his passion – high-end cigars. After researching various towns, he saw an opportunity in the Short Hills section of Millburn.

The boutique shop features a retail area as well as a private smoking lounge complete with television screens, a piano, luxury seating and private lockers for members.

“Tonino Cigars coming to Upper Millburn Avenue is the latest chapter of the revival story of this part of town,” said Steve Grillo, the Executive Director of Explore, the sponsor of the event.

Explore Millburn-Short Hills is the Special Improvement District (SID) representing 500 businesses in five districts, including Upper Millburn Avenue.

Reducing The Vacancy Rate

“This corridor had a commercial vacancy rate of over 23 percent in May 2021," Grillo said. "But with the arrival of Tonino Cigars, Taste Buddy, Tiger Schulman Mixed Martial Arts, Lash Love, Bagel Pantry, KC Foot Spa, and Jack’s Lobster Shack, we have reduced that number to 15 percent in just over nine months. As an organization, we are eager to continue this positive trend."

Millburn Township Committee member and Explore board member Richard Wasserman said, “I could not be more pleased to welcome Fernando to town and to celebrate the arrival of yet another business on Upper Millburn Avenue.”

Grillo said that since Explore was created in August of 2020, during the pandemic, “we have reduced the overall township commercial vacancy rate from 16 percent to 7 percent, which is simply remarkable. We also provided over $420,000 in grants to businesses affected by Hurricane Ida, hosted numerous events, and oversaw multiple beautification projects.

For more information, visit www.exploremillburnshorthills.org or contact Executive Director Steve Grillo at [email protected].

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