Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaun Payne.
Hi Shaun, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2019, Shaun and a group of close friends launched the Bluff City Cigar Club, a monthly subscription that delivered five boutique cigars to members’ homes. The club quickly grew beyond what they ever expected. Out of those growing pains, Shaun’s wife and best friend, Tracy Payne, began encouraging him to take the next step—opening a cigar lounge that would spotlight smaller boutique companies often overlooked in the industry, yet deeply loved by Shaun and many others around him. The vision was to create something different from what Memphis already had: a welcoming place where everyone could belong, where weary souls could find rest, and where community could grow around a shared love of boutique tobacco.
Tracy’s confidence sparked Shaun’s, and he reached out to his favorite cigar lounge, Smokers Abbey in Nashville, to speak with its founder, Joshua Stump, about how to make it happen. After their conversation, the vision became reality. Shaun, Tracy, and their good friend Elliot began building the Abbey in Memphis in the midst of 2020. On October 31, 2020, they opened the doors with their very first event—laying the foundation for what would become a thriving community.
From the beginning, the heart of Smokers Abbey Memphis has been about far more than cigars. It’s about unreasonable Southern hospitality, where service extends well beyond the purchase. Our tobacconists don’t just sell cigars—they guide, listen, and often lead guests from disappointment to delight by helping them discover something in the humidor they never even knew they were looking for.
In 2025, after a difficult season, Elliot chose to step away permanently. That same year, Brady Grant stepped in as Shaun’s new partner. Brady has been a close friend of Shaun’s since seventh grade and a loyal supporter of the Abbey Memphis since day one. With Brady’s passion and commitment, the Abbey’s original vision is being carried forward and strengthened for the future.
Today, Shaun and Brady share a mission: to build a deep community around boutique tobacco and to help people find true rest for their souls through the Abbey. We remain dedicated to curating a humidor filled with the finest boutique cigars, honoring the past while protecting the future of cigar culture in Memphis and beyond.
More than anything, we are here to welcome you—to create a place where you can slow down, connect, and find rest for your soul.
Welcome to the Abbey. We can’t wait to see you walk through the doors so you can find rest for your soul.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been very challenging. We opened during COVID, we have had massive theft over the past year and half, and lots of other issues. We just welcomed a new business partner Brady Grant and combined it with a renewed vision so I believe it is going to be really good, real quick.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Smokers Abbey we are passionate about tobacco. So, we carefully curate our humidors with the best small-batch, small company cigars the industry has to offer. We believe in community; that cigars can lead to good conversations and great relationships. At our lounges, we hope that you will feel comfortable and at home. Not sure where to start, just ask! We are here to educate and help you grow in your cigar or pipe journey.
We sell boutique small batch cigars, craft beers (over 60 different ones on hand), and create a welcoming community for anyone who loves tobacco. We are known to be a place that is restful, where everyone can find rest for their soul.
Boutique, Small-Batch Cigars – A carefully curated humidor featuring brands like Tatuaje, Black Label Trading Co., Black Works, L’Atelier, Drew Estate, and other unique lines you won’t find in big-box shops.
Craft Beer Selection – A rotating lineup of quality craft beers chosen to perfectly complement your cigar experience.
Community-Driven Lounge Culture – More than just a cigar shop, it’s a welcoming space where people from all walks of life gather to connect, relax, and share meaningful conversations.
Unreasonable Southern Hospitality – A reputation for customer service that goes beyond the purchase, with tobacconists who help guests discover cigars they didn’t even know they were looking for.
Events & Experiences – From live music and poker nights to ladies’ nights and cigar releases, the Abbey is known for creating memorable experiences that keep people coming back.
A Place of Rest – A core belief that cigars provide more than enjoyment—they create moments of pause, reflection, and community, offering “rest for the soul.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
The greater the risk, the greater the reward. This has been the most challenging 5 years of my life. We almost lost the store this year and just got a new investor to carry us through. At first, things went well, but then the challenges of economic issues, tariffs, and higher prices, and theft occurred, and we were put in a position where we had to make a drastic change and take a greater risk. Im a risk taker if the opportunity is promising.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://smokersabbeymemphis.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/smokersabbeymemphis
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmokersAbbeyMemphis
