The Briar & The Burley

Just visit and smell the leather. Great backpacks as well as bags, suitcases, purses, etc. Always worth a trip.

While shopping in Bloomington I couldn’t help but notice that this store had a retired Formula 1 car on display! I was surprised and pleased for the find. I entered the store for the first time to discover that this business specializes in high quality luggage, leather goods, pipes, cigars, and tobacco accessories.
Well they also offer a small department that is dedicated to all manner of F1 goods. Including polo shirts, t-​shirts, hats, and models of F1 cars. This was of interest to me and I was shopping for a Christmas gift for a F1 fan… BUT within seconds of entering I had an employee that was always on me. Hell it was like the gentleman was velcroed to my hip. Seriously, I had no intend to commit a crime and didn’t enjoy the experience of this local Bloomington shop. You drew me in with an amazing car and then I felt like a shoplifter simply for entering your doors. I will never return.

The Briar & The Burley is the manliest shop in the world. They even have a regular supply of Opus X cigars, which are almost impossible to find anywhere else. You can pick up a cigar, buy a ginger ale for $ 0.75, and walk into the smoke room to talk about woodworking and fishing with the other patrons. Then, you can buy a straight razor and a beer stein before you leave.
If you are having trouble growing a beard, just stay here for 30 minutes. Beards grow twice as a fast in The Briar & The Burley.
If Ron Swanson were a shop, this would be it.

Good selection of cigars. The workers are really friendly and so is the clientele. The smoking lounge is quiet and laid back. Definitely recommend.

The fact that I have failed to write a review of this magical shop is nobody’s fault but my own. Although several years out of college, this used to be a staple during my undergrad years at IU. I pop in for a visit anytime I return to Bloomington, it never changes (which is a great thing).
If you are a man, and the Briar doesn’t sell it, then you don’t need it PERIOD. This is a place sure to stop any man’s man dead in his tracks. Great cigar selection, properly humidified, and priced very fairly. One of the largest premium handmade tobacco pipe selections in the United States, and some of the finest luggage, leather goods, shaving accessories, and pens imaginable. Also, in the back corner there is a lounge to enjoy any of your tobacco purchases.
Women, do not be afraid to enter! Mike, Matt, and Jon are very friendly from behind the counter. Whether you’re curious about what makes men tick or you need a gift for your man that’s sure to make him love you, there’s no better place to go.
So let’s review. If you are looking for fine cigars, pipes, pipe tobacco, luggage, leather goods, cigar accessories etc. in Bloomington then this is the place for you. On the other hand if you’re looking for a ‘smoke shop’ (glass pieces, water pipes) this is NOT the shop for you.

Very interesting place, I walked in to get a feel of the products they sold. I was surprised to see an actual Ferrari inside the store, everyone in the store minds their own business and are not in your face asking if you need help. I selected a My Father Cigar, and walked to the walk-​in lounge in the back. A bit unclean, but the couches and the atmosphere was nice. Enjoyed my cigar for about 2 hours, and walked out. Good Cigar selection, Good Prices, No Hassle Customer Experience.

Looks are very deceiving when you open the door but their selection of cigars, pipes and tobacco is amazing. Even though the shop specializes in luggage and racing merchandise, I went for the tobacco. I found the store employee extremely knowledgeable and when I mentioned an interest in pipes he took the time to educate me on different pipes and tobaccos. Finally, the ultimate, you can smoke inside the shop and let me tell you, the cast of characters sitting in the smoke room is well worth a visit.

I’m a non-​smoker, but I love the smell of this shop! TOBACCO & LEATHERmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I prefer to buy my leather goods here!

Well, it’s the only place in Bloomington to smoke inside, so it doesn’t have any competition in that department. Huge selection of tobacco and related products, and a ton of beautiful leather stuffs.
The employee I talked to was friendly and laid-​back, and told me the history of the store with a smile on his lips when I asked.

In the last six months I have become a cigar fanatic. This shop has to be the best one I’ve been to. While I’ve been to others with bigger, more opulent smoking lounges, greater selection and better parking I’d go here above all of them. I’ve been to shops in Indy, Ft. Wayne, Terre Haute and Fishers and hands down this is THE BEST spot in the state, in my short time.
It is the only shop I’ve been to where they are informed and willing to discuss products at length. Should I ever move away when I return to town for an IU game I will make a point of coming in. Just one more reason Bloomington is a great place to live! Thank you for your service!

Any time I want a quality product, this is the place I check first. They have a great selection of «traditional» shaving items, and some nice quality lathers. They carry the best blades as well.
You can get luggage, umbrellas, walking sticks, and of course smoking supplies here. It always smells wonderful, and the staff has always been extremely helpful. I purchased my last wallet here because everything in department stores feels plasticky. Here you can find some soft genuine leather that feels great to the touch. I don’t smoke, but appreciate that they have a smoking room. Nice. Makes me wish I could enjoy a really good cigar.

You can really feel like the opulent man here. Great selection of cigars at good prices, but it’s much more than that. High class luggage, old timey shaving gear, pipes, and all sorts of smoking paraphernalia (well…not that smoking paraphernalia). The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. If they could find a cure for lung cancer I’d probably hang out here constantly.

I have to disagree with Lisa S. and Christiana S. I’m not a woman but I can say out of the dozens of times I’ve been to the store I’ve almost always seen a woman there. Either shopping or smoking in the smoking room. I’m guessing it was either something you were expecting and so then saw or just whoever was helping you that day. :)
I’ve been to the Briar & The Burley since it was in the mall. It’s the greatest cigar store I’ve found.

Great gifts including luggage and leather goods in addition to the smoking products. Perfect place to shop for a new wallet or brief case!
They are missing a star because every time I have been in there I feel like I have been treated differently because I was a woman… which is crazy… cause who do you think buys the most gifts for men… women!

A truly excellent shop. This store carries only the finest of products and the staff are true experts. The five stars are well-​deserved.

Really the only cigar/​tobacco shop in Bloomington, Indiana. For being in a small college town you’d think they’d be ripe for taking advantage of students and faculty, but rather they have an incredible selection at very fair prices. The most impressive moment, to me, was when I spoke to the manager about having trouble keeping my humidor up to 60−65% humidity levels and they offered to let me bring my humidor in and place it in their humidor to bring it all the way up. That’s service!