Iwan Ries and Company is a tobacconist located in Chicago , Illinois , one of the oldest family owned tobacco companies in North America , tracing its history back to E. Hoffman & Co , which formed in 1857 which was originally owned by Edward Hoffman . Following the Chicago Fire , the Sherman House hotel , where the E. Hoffman & Co. was based out of , was destroyed and rebuilt . As business grew after the fire , Edward realized that he could not run the company alone and in 1891 he recruited his nephew , Iwan Ries to join him . Iwan Ries and Co. is the oldest tobacconist in Chicago
Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Iwan Ries and Co.