Salee and Jack Sweeney have opened Monte's of Santa Fe, a new retail store at 328 Sandoval St. featuring premium cigars, pipes and pipe tobacco.

The business is in a 3,500-square-foot, newly renovated space between downtown and the Santa Fe Railyard, as Jack Sweeney likes to point out.

"We didn't spare any expense in creating the store," he said.

One feature of the interior design of the store, which was the work of Santa Fe designer David Naylor, are two Italian teak pillars at the inside entrance to the business.

"They're 200 years old," Salee Sweeney said. "Then were going to be used in (the late) Patrick Swayze's house."

And even though the store hasn't held a grand opening, "business has been good," Jack Sweeney said. "We intend to come into the market strong."

Starting in the fall, Monte's will offer a private club where members can relax and enjoy a smoke, the Sweeneys said. The club will feature a large-screen television, WiFi as well as a wet bar, with soda, mineral water and coffee available.

There will be a limit of 100 people joining the club.

While men are expected to be the primary customers of Monte's, women are especially welcome, Salee Sweeney said.

"The other day a woman looked in the door and asked me if it was OK to come in," she said. "I said absolutely, and I told her women are welcome here. I will personally greet them myself."

Salee Sweeney is smoking a different cigar every day just to sample the products. "Now I see what the fuss is about," she said.

Larry Monte, who owns a tobacco store in Albuquerque, is the franchisor of the business.

"We created his business model here," Jack Sweeney said. "We have a very good idea of his business."

A business partner in the new store is Bill Hon, city Parking Division director.

The cigars for sale at Monte's of Santa Fe "is the largest selection in Northern New Mexico," Jack Sweeney said. "We offer all flavors and manufacturers," with prices ranging from $2 to $30 per cigar.

Patrons must be 18 years or older to shop in the store.

Customers may leave their cigars in the store by becoming a member of Monte's of Santa Fe, which costs $45 per month, and then leasing a humidor, which costs between $15 and $25 per month, depending on the size of the locker.

Properly stored in a humidor, "cigars will last for years and years," Jack Sweeney said. "Easily from eight to 20 years."

Monte's of Santa Fe employs five or six people and eventually expects to have more as business increases, Jack Sweeney said.

The store is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Monte's of Santa Fe has a Web site (www.montesofsantafe.com) as well as a Facebook page.

The store also will have a flag where customers may buy a cigar and place it by the flag. Every month those cigars will be sent to the troops in Afghanistan, the Sweeneys said.

The Sweeneys decided to open their new business after moving to Santa Fe from Massachusetts.

Jack Sweeney retired from Smith & Wesson, while Salee Sweeney previously worked for Pan American Airlines.

Contact Bob Quick at 986-3011 or bobquick@sfnewmexican.com.