John B. Hayes Tobacconist

First and foremost, John B. Hayes is a tobacconist, not a mere cigar shop. Apart from a very good cigar selection, their specialty is fine tobacco for the pipe. When I got curious about pipe smoking a few years I came here for advice and purchased my first quality pipe and a number of tobacco house blends. I have always found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. They have a wide selection of bulk and tinned tobacco, pipes, and accessories. This is my first choice for a brick and mortar tobacconist in Northern Virginia.

We brought some very expensive antique pipes to be cleaned here. We were ASSURED they would be done blah blah blah. Weeks passed. We call and they say ‘oh they are being worked on at the other shop’. Ok. Weeks pass again. ‘Oh our machine broke’. Weeks pass again. ‘Oh uhhhh… still working on them! Give us some more time!’
Look. These people had our pipes for over 4 months. When we were finally done waiting we go and demand back our pipes. They were not in the other shop like we were told. Never worked on, nothing. They LIED and held our pipes hostage for months and for what? Nothing. They had never worked on our pipes.
If you’re too lazy to do the job, fine. But don’t tell me you are working on them or doing something when you aren’t.

For a local cigar shop I really enjoy coming here and have on occasion hung around to smoke a cigar with the locals in there, although the old location was really cramped, I read a couple reviews about their new mall location which I discovered is also temporary — as they are moving to a new location outside the mall right across Rt 50 by Harris Teeters (which is the plaza adjacent to the Fire Station and Briar Oaks Exxon). It is supposed to have a lounge as part of the shop which I am very much looking forward to checking out in Jan 2015 when they move.
I would agree, they do have a bit of clique in there at times with locals but have learned to just stick it out. I love being in a cigar and pipe shop because it reminds me of my grandfather and his pipes. I think the lounge will make all the difference to the atmosphere and they guys will just need to learn to work with novice smokers a bit better to educate them. For a while when I first started smoking turds recreationally after myself returning from Ass Crackistan in 2009 (like another reviewer), I was into Acid’s and mild cigars and the guys here were shredding me — Ha! I laughed it off but cigars are like beer and liquor and develop an acquired taste that grows with time. I now mostly enjoy very bold dark cigars. I rarely touch an Acid.
Overall, this store gets my top vote because they are close to me and I have not spent much time in other shops with exception of Reston Town Centers which was just OK, the lounge is off limits to non-​members which is a hefty fee. I wouldn’t mind using a lounge and paying a nominal fee, but not like what the Reston Shop charges — I compare their lounge with like a Morton’s wine locker membership — very pricey.
They need to mark the old photo as their old location so people aren’t confused.

Store relocated. Do NOT ask the staff how they like the new location. You will receive a long lecture in how they hate it. And they have lots of reasons and extra comments about the mall that they will freely share. I would have rather they have responded by saying it was better downstairs and left it at that. Now in the past I have asked them to order me 5 boxes of certain cigars. They said they would call me when they are in. They don’t call. When I come by after a week I find out that they already opened the cigars and started to sell them. They off the same bulk rate for what’s left over but I like giving out complete boxes not half boxes. The new location is nice clean and actually has room to walk around. You can walk in and out without all the thick smoke attaching to your clothes. Store nice. Staff isn’t so nice. Bad night maybe? I passed on my pipe tobacco purchase tonight. I wish the staff could experience a cigar store and lounge in Tampa Florida. They do it right. Back to mail order.

So I understand the other positive reviews here, and I’m sure if you’re friends with proprietors it’s a different experience, however today I stopped in while working to buy several pipe tobaccos, a pipe lighter and who knows what else (I love tobacco shops). Upon entering the store the six or so guys sitting around smoking cigars all stopped talking, including the owner/​employee (guy behind the counter). I felt like I was interrupting a private party. So silence hung in the air like the morning fog on the Blue Ridge mountains. I said hello but was greeted by silence. Perhaps my bow tie threw them. I looked a round a bit, went to the back then the employee said, «what do you want.» Um, okay. I said «well I was originally here for pipe tobacco but clearly you don’t want my business.» I then departed.
Look, I get your favorite shop but guys there are lots of future customers out there. You just lost one. I’m at fair oaks every week, I smoke pipes and buy pipes, but I’ll continue to give my business to Georgetown Tobacco, they greet you, ask to help you and have common manners.

All around quality place, not overly fancy but good selection and service in a large mall setting with market fair prices.
In addition to years of buying my basics and classics as well as a few specialities here periodically, I recently had a very noteworthy positive experience: while in a rush w my 9yo son, I left my wallet on the counter!.. They found my info, tracked me down with some minor detective work, and held it for me til I could get back. Great honest service, made the extra effort.
Bonus: if you want a place to smoke inside, they allow it… albeit in a tight space.

My association with John B Hayes goes back to the days they opened. Kyle has been a fixture and real expert when I was and continue to explore new tastes and branch out from the tried and true. I also appreciate Kyle’s assistance today with choosing some good smokes for our service men in Afghanistan to keep their Friday Stogie nights and moral burning. My friends over there serving on the front lines appreciate it very, very much. Thank You Kyle and Thanks John B. Hayes.
T. Thieman
Rolling Thunder MD1

I don’t smoke cigars usually, but when I do, John B. Hayes is consistently the best experience in Northern Virginia. Accessory prices are on the steep end but the cigar prices are very fair compared to the other shops in town. Every employee is very helpful and pleasant to talk to.
Selection is not enormous… ish. If you want truly esoteric and weird stuff, there are other places with more variety, but the prices are right and they still have a great enough selection to make the whole experience enjoyable.

When I walked into the store, the employee’s asked me if I needed any help. I explained to them I was looking for a pipe but didn’t want to spend an exorbitant amount and they showed me several Savinelli’s. They were a little more pricey but well worth it. I checked out the prices online and they sell them for what you would pay for online.
The owner threw in several free items and extremely helpful. If you’re looking for quality customer service – look no further at John B. Hayes.
*Update*
Second visit wasn’t as pleasant, the owner was down right rude. You can honestly find better deals online, seek services elsewhere.

This is one of the few full service tobacconist stores around anymore. They have the jars of blended tobaccos, pipes, cigars, and all the accessories you will ever need. The staff is very knowledgeable without being pushy. This is not a place to go grab a carton of Marlboro’s. This is a gentleman’s tobacco shop. If you are pipe or cigar smoker or wanting to become one, then this is place to go.

Its a tobacco shop inside the mall. There is a fine selection of cigars, and other tobacco products. I like this place when there isnt 10 people all puffing away at once… besides that its a nice little shop.

Wanting to give a review of this store is one of the things which brought me to Unilocal in the first place and since I’ve been revisiting some of my older reviews I’ve come back to this one, just as I’ve been back to John B. Hayes many times since.
I certainly don’t have the space to detail every single time I’ve been in here in the last year and change, so I’ll stick to experiences over the last several.
I’ve been able to not only find all the bulk pipe tobaccos I’ve wanted but newer offerings from several of the major brands of tinned pipe tobaccos which I’ve been unable to find at ANY other stores within twenty or more miles of here.
I’ve also been able to find reasonably priced cigars which are to my tastes which I haven’t been able to find anywhere else locally for the same price. This isn’t just limited to big names, but to things like 601, some of the My Father cigars, and a few other items. Anything else which I wanted to purchase was either the same price as other local shops or lower (IE: Retail price, not jacked up). Over the holidays I was even able to purchase a friend some Fuente Anejos for under ten dollars per cigar when the other two local shops I saw them at were charging more than double, same with the Opus they had at the time. One of the employees did explain to me that they do charge more than average for cigarettes, but that’s mostly due to them not ordering enough of them to get the same discounts as a 7 – 11 or cigarette outlet store.
The employees tend to leave me be as I’m in there often enough that I know my way around, but they’re also nice enough to let me know when there’s something new in either cigars or pipe tobacco that I might like. So far, they tend to be right on the money. I’ve also seen them happily show people how to smoke their first pipe, how to and how not to cut a cigar, and even recommend local restaurants which still allow smoking. When people walk into the store they normally approach the customer, ask them if they need help, let them know that they’re available for any questions should they so choose, and then step back. I know I’d appreciate that in most shopping scenarios and it’s too bad more stores don’t have that sort of hands-​off/​here to help when you need us approach.
Five stars means «As good as it gets!» and I’m still convinced that out of all the tobacconists and cigar stores in the area this store is As Good As It Gets.

I’m going to give them four stars, only because I’ve found their attentiveness to customers a little on the casual side. Nearly every time I enter, it’s difficult to tell who’s staff and who are customers, and staff sometimes doesn’t jump too quickly to make themselves known. However, that aside, I will mention that their Mahogany pipe tobacco keeps me coming back time and again, and I’m also a big fan of their Blue Ridge blend as well for the winter months, when it’s nice to have a heavier aromatic to smoke. But the Mahogany is very special, and I receive compliments and queries everywhere I go (including a tour driver in Anitigua who was quite fond of the aroma). Glad to see they are faring well during these difficult economic times, and despite the fact that Fair Oaks Mall insisted they install a glass door, which they keep permanently closed in order to keep the smoke inside.

This is one of the best tobacco shops I’ve ever encountered, in my entire life.
Every single last one of the employees is helpful and non-​judgemental if you really don’t know what you are doing or looking for. Their selection of cigars and pipe tobacco is amazing and the prices aren’t sky high, still very reasonable.
Often, even if I don’t need something I’ll just walk through there to get the aroma. It always smells SOO GOOD in there!!! Side note, this place has been in Fair Oaks since I was born. Seriously, if you’ve been open for 28 years in a mall you’ve been doing something very right.

Great selection of cigars and the staff here is so friendly and informative. I love this place and will be back for sure.

Incredible service and selection! You’re treated as if you’re the only one that matters. Staff has excellent knowledge of the cigars and makes excellent suggestions based on your wants and needs. I love this place!

The store actually makes you feel welcome. I have been to many a cigar store as a customer with friends trying to find something and this store is immaculate compared to all the rest. They offer great service and amazing prices with all the friendless anyone could need. Pipes, tobacco, cigars, papers, hookahs, etc… This store had everything I needed for the price I wanted to pay presented in a clean, easy to find, friendly environment.

The Wife is not a huge fan of me smoking turds. The behavior that I adopted while bored in the hills of Asscrackistan, while now replaced by other vices, still comes out periodically when the occasion warrants it. And there is no better occasion than a NYE gala that has an outdoor porch in DC.
Upon walking into the store, I stood in front of the cigar cabinet trying my hardest to remember the Davidoff’s that I smoked in Las Vegas (good luck remembering anything there, right?) and was coming up short. The attendant noticed and came up to ask me what my preferences were in a cigar. After giving him the quick run down, he recommended two Davidoff’s that I purchased and later enjoyed immensely.
I’ll be back here if I can convince The Wife to let me do this while I’m on the back porch during the summer time. I always needed to buy a nice humidor…

This place has almost — almost — convinced me that the local retail cigar store does indeed have a future.
We came to the mall for lunch a few weeks ago — we had 30 mins before the sushi place opened, so we diverged. My two buddies went to the Apple Store and I came here.
«why did you go to the Apple Store? „I asked them — „I buy and smoke cigars all the time — I need to replenish — you have all the ipods, imacs and Iphones you can ever need“
“ we went to give the staff some help and see if there were any customer questions we could answer.»
Boy — anyway — onto the cigar store.
A beautiful store, light airy, great cabinets, plenty of information on special offers. A friendly guy inside offering help — a great selection of smokes — some at good prices — and — for the pipe smokers out there — (when was the last time you saw anybody smoking a pipe — I’d have to say sometime around 1979 — anyway — they have a phenomenal selection of pipes and pipe tobacco.

You can smell the fragrant aroma of pipe tobacco and cigars from afar as you approach John B. Hayes. I don’t smoke cigarettes, but I do enjoy the occasional cigar. I’ve been coming here for years when in need to pick up cigars for a special event or party.
They have an excellent selection of cigars, and the prices are not extravagant. They also carry a wide selection of pipe tobacco, pipes, accessories, humidors, cutters, lighters, and so on.
I can usually count on being able to pick up at least one of my favorites: Romeo y Julieta Churchills, Arturo Fuentes 858s, or Partagas. If they are out of those (very rare) in a pinch, a Davidoff or Macanudo in the maduro wrapper will suffice.
I bought an entire box of Arturo Fuente 858s to take to my company Christmas party. There are 25 cigars to a box — the box is really cool — it’s made of real wood — looks like some sort of cedar. The whole box went quickly! Yumm! Very tasty cigars!