Monterey in Monterey County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Hellam's Tobacco Shop
Photographed by Doug Love, January 27, 2018
1. Hellam's Tobacco Shop Marker
Inscription.
Hellam's Tobacco Shop. . Founded in 1893, by Frank Hellam as the Climax Cigar Store, the shop later took Mr. Hellam's name. Hellam’s first tobacco shop relocated to 420 Main Street after he left his bootblack stand, which was adjacent to the Bohemia Saloon. He then relocated to the first floor of the Monterey Hotel at 404 Alvarado Street on January 23, 1904 and finally moved to 423 Alvarado Street, its current location, in December 1933. Hellam’s is California’s oldest tobacco shop and Monterey’s oldest continually operating business. In 1908, Hellam’s was the largest retail cigar store in the United States. The Hellam family owned and operated the store for more than 100 years before selling to the current owners in 1999.
Founded in 1893, by Frank Hellam as the Climax Cigar Store, the shop later took Mr. Hellam's name. Hellam’s first tobacco shop relocated to 420 Main Street after he left his bootblack stand, which was adjacent to the Bohemia Saloon. He then relocated to the first floor of the Monterey Hotel at 404 Alvarado Street on January 23, 1904 and finally moved to 423 Alvarado Street, its current location, in December 1933. Hellam’s is California’s oldest tobacco shop and Monterey’s oldest continually operating business. In 1908, Hellam’s was the largest retail cigar store in the United States. The Hellam family owned and operated the store for more than 100 years before selling to the current owners in 1999.
Erected 2018 by Native Sons of the Golden West. (Marker Number 141-11.)
Location. 36° 35.96′ N, 121° 53.667′ W. Marker is in Monterey, California, in Monterey County. It is on Alvarado Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 423 Alvarado Street, Monterey CA 93940, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Central Coast and specifically on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2023, by James King of San Miguel, California. This page has been viewed 378 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 6, 2023, by James King of San Miguel, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
