Tinder Box. The name itself conjures up premium cigars, pipes and tobacco at unbeatable prices. This is a tradition that started in 1928 and continues to the present day. Please sit back, light up your cigar or pipe, and become familiar with the history and personalities of Tinder Box.

The History of Tinder Box and Tinderbox.com

In 1928, Edward Kolpin opened the first Tinder Box store in Santa Monica, CA.

Mr. Kolpin began selling tobacco and pipes in his family’s pharmacy in Santa Monica. He leased the soda fountain area in his father’s store and began to sell pipes and his own custom blends of tobacco. As time went on and demand for his quality tobacco products grew, Mr. Kolpin ventured out on his own and opened the first Tinder Box store in 1928.




Mr. Kolpin ran his original store 78 years. His recent passing in April 2007 left a legacy of service, dedication and passion for cigars and pipes. Ed Kolpin catered to the tobacco needs of such Hollywood personalities as Marilyn Monroe, George Burns, Yul Brynner, Clark Gable, and Bing Crosby. His custom made pipes can be seen gracing Hollywood movies and on the cover of Bing Crosby’s classic albums.




As business grew, Mr. Kolpin decided to franchise his Tinder Box stores. The first one was opened in Hawaii and this represented one of the first franchises in American History. Within years the number of stores across the country climbed to 148. Under the leadership of Ed Kolpin and his two sons, Tinder Box became a powerhouse.