J.C. Newman Brings “El Reloj” to The Premium Cigar Association Trade Show

Constructs World’s Largest Cardboard Trade Show Booth

LAS VEGAS, NV – J.C. Newman Cigar Co. has recreated its iconic “El Reloj” cigar factory to the 2021 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show in Las Vegas this weekend. J.C. Newman’s booth is a quarter-scale model of the west end of its 111-year-old cigar factory in Tampa and features a 26-foot-tall clock tower. Visitors can walk inside El Reloj, tour a replica of J.C. Newman’s cigar museum, and view cigar artifacts from the company’s history. Photos of the booth are below.

“In celebration of our company’s 125th anniversary last year, we restored our historic El Reloj factory in Tampa and opened a new three-level cigar museum, interactive theater, private events space, hand rolling cigar room, and factory store,” said Drew Newman, general counsel and fourth generation cigar maker. “For the 2021 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show, I wanted to bring El Reloj to Las Vegas.”

J.C. Newman’s historian, Holden Rasmussen, will be giving tours of El Reloj to trade show visitors and sharing the history of the cigar industry in Ybor City and the United States. J.C. Newman is the only cigar company with a full-time historian on staff.

“My family attended the first cigar trade show in 1933 and every show since then,” said Newman. “Our replica of El Reloj is unlike any booth that has ever appeared at a cigar trade show. It highlights the history of our family business and the premium cigar industry in America.”

The replica of El Reloj was built entirely out of recycled cardboard by GOKARTON, the leader in cardboard displays. It is the world’s largest cardboard trade show booth. After the trade show, it will be recycled.

J.C. Newman Recognized for its El Reloj Booth at PCA 2021
Won “Best in Show” and was the world’s largest cardboard trade show booth

Drew Newman, fourth generation cigar maker, said:

“It was wonderful seeing so many friends at the Premium Cigar Association trade show last week. We were honored that our J.C. Newman booth won “Best in Show!” My father, uncle, and I are especially grateful to our friends at GOKARTONwho recreated our historic El Reloj cigar factory out of 2,000 pieces of recycled cardboard. Because I am very proud of the restoration of our 111-year-old cigar factory in Tampa, I wanted to bring a replica of El Reloj and our cigar museum to the trade show in Las Vegas.

My family and I hope that you will visit us in Tampa, tour El Reloj, and experience our new three-level cigar museum, interactive theater, and hand rolling room. Our goal is to continue our centuries-old tradition of American cigar making. Just as many wineries, breweries, and distilleries welcome visitors, we hope that El Reloj will become the premier cigar tourism destination in the United States.”

To see photos of J.C. Newman’s booth, interviews with Drew Newman, and other recaps of the 2021 PCA Trade Show, please use the buttons below.

GoKarton Booth Creation and Assembly