Kennebec Cigar, an Old-fashioned Sign of the Times

By David Hayes

The lettering on the window at 128 Water Street still reads “Kennebec Cigar Co.” but the cigars have given way to vintage Lionel trains. For the past 40 years, owner Tom Allen has navigated the shifting tides of downtown Hallowell, rising rents and taxes, and the Kennebec’s flood waters.

(Before we go any further, Tom wants to be clear that, while his business is up and running, and people are welcome to visit when it’s open, he is not running it as a retail storefront on regular hours. More on that later.)

Tom’s presence downtown began in 1986 when he and his partner, Liz, opened Liz’s Ceramics. Over the decades, his footprint shifted across storefronts that mirror the evolution of modern Hallowell. He ran an oriental rug and antiques shop in what is now the entryway to The Liberal Cup, moved to 107 Water Street (now eSteam Salon), and eventually bought a cigar shop across the street (now part of The Quarry Tap Room). At various points, his rugs occupied 130 Water Street (now Cocoon) and the then unpowered 134 Water Street (now Uncorked Wine & Cheese).

As downtown rents climbed and retail changed, Tom adapted. In 2002, Liz set up an eBay storefront (eBay ID: Liz04330) for his sideline of Lionel trains. When the 2023 “Grinch Flood” wiped out his tobacco inventory alongside rising tobacco taxes, the online train business became his main focus.

Today, 128 Water Street serves primarily as the packing and shipping headquarters for his thriving eBay operation rather than a traditional retail store. While passersby are welcome when the shop is open, don't look for regular retail hours or card readers.

If the shop is closed, as it often is, remember that the real business is open online 24 hours a day. Tom is often up at night working online auctions to acquire more inventory.

Tom’s story is remarkable at first for its longevity but ends up being a testament to adaptability. He changed locations and the focus of his business as times changed and opportunities arose. Though he was pushed into his eBay store by Liz, he has tended it and adjusted to shifts in online sales for over two decades. The fact that the Kennebec Cigar shop is frequently closed and, when open, you won’t find a single cigar in it, is a mark of Tom’s success and ultimately the point of the story.

See the full issue of The Hallowell Champion

Additional Photos and Info

The lettering in the window is actually missing part of the word “Cigar” now. -Dave Hayes

Tom puts a locomotive on his test track. Full Disclosure: I bought it. - Dave Hayes

Author’s Note: I have been popping in to Tom’s shop for a couple years now and thought that his story would be perfect for the HABOT section of the Champion.

Here are a couple points of of interest I want to emphasize that one might miss in the original Champion article.

• The article mentions that he had a shop in what is now the entryway to the Liberal Cup. If you stand at the hostess station in the Liberal Cup and look around you, it is hard to believe that there was a separate retail space there.

• The article mentions that Tom rented the “then unpowered 134 Water Street (now Uncorked Wine and Cheese).” What didn’t make it in to the final version was that he was paying less than $100/month to rent the space. Of course, that rent sounds less remarkable when you consider the implications of the term “unpowered” in the original article, especially in the winter. Tom said that if people wanted to sift through his inventory at that time of year, they needed mittens and earmuffs.