For more than 150 years, L.J. Peretti Co. has been a fixture in Boston’s tobacco community, navigating a landscape shaped by changing times, tastes, and regulations. Founded in 1870, L.J. Peretti Co. later established its longtime home in Boston’s Park Square in 1892, where it continues to operate today.
The old-fashioned atmosphere is apparent when you first enter the store. You will be greeted by strong aromas of pipe tobacco and see glass jars of various blends.
Beyond its longevity, the shop also represents a tradition that was once deeply tied to Boston’s academic life. For decades, pipe smoking was not only common across the city, it was popular among students and professors on campuses like Boston University.
In a 1999 article for The BU Bridge, journalist Amy E. Dean described how popular pipe smoking was on campus. Through the 1930s-1950s pipe smoking was extremely common. “You’d think every male student had been given a briar pipe as part of his orientation package,” says Amy. As one of the shops supplying pipe tobacco during that time, L.J. Peretti Co. was directly connected to academic culture, serving both professors and students.
However, this once-common tradition wouldn’t last. Pipe smoking continues to decline due to health concerns, changing social norms, and the rise of vaping. Today, you are unlikely to see students or faculty smoking pipes on campus.
Libero Joseph Peretti emigrated from Lugano, Switzerland, in 1870 and founded Peretti Cuban Cigar Co. in the North End. The company later opened a factory in Park Square in 1882. They employed roughly 50 cigar rollers and became known for Clear Havana vitolas, including the well-known La Mirendella. These Cuban-style cigars were prized for their quality and helped build the shop’s early reputation.
Later, Libero Joseph Peretti’s son Joseph, known as “The Major,” joined the business and shifted its focus towards pipe tobacco. He continued to create new blends of English tobacco, and secured import rights for pipe brands.
Following him, the third generation, led by Robert Peretti, expanded the company further, creating more than 80 house blends and opening additional locations across Boston. Over time, the business became recognized for its quality and expertise, earning a reputation among key figures in the industry.
L.J. Perretti’s still operates in Park Square, and offers more than 250 cigars, and more than 2,000 tobacco blends. It is one of only two or three shops in the U.S. that still blends its own pipe tobacco.
Current president Stephen Willet started as a worker and became the owner after many years. He personally knew Robert Peretti and is the only one in the shop who still blends tobacco according to recipe books from the 1800s.
Barry, a longtime customer, illustrates how deeply rooted L.J. Peretti Co. is in its community. Barry has been coming to the shop since he was 16 when he used to buy foreign cigarettes (which are no longer sold due to changing regulations). He recalls an older customer, Mr. Freddy, who smoked a pipe well into his 90s, reflecting the longstanding tradition of pipe smoking that defined the shop’s clientele.
While L.J. Peretti Co. has adapted to major changes in laws, social norms, and consumer habits, its roots in craftsmanship and tradition still set it apart. What was once a central part of academic life, especially at places like Boston University, has faded in modern times. Yet inside the shop, history still lingers in its customers, and its process. More than 150 years after its founding, L.J. Peretti’s remains as a link between Boston’s past and present, preserving a bit of its history to this day.
Calvin is a journalist from New York that started writing from a young age. While pursuing his Master of Science in media science, Calvin looks forward to using his love of writing to capture stories for positive impact.
Leave a Reply