About Us

The Store

Uhle Tobacco Company was founded in 1939 by John H. Uhle. The original location was at 232 W. Michigan St. in downtown Milwaukee, just two blocks from our present location. Mr. Uhle often sat in the front window of the store repairing pipes and hand blending pipe tobaccos for his customers. In the 1950’s Mr. Uhle developed a wholesale business by selling his tobaccos and pipes to appointed agencies throughout the Midwest. This has grown and is still a big part of our business today. Later in that decade, he moved to our present location on Wisconsin Avenue, the heart of downtown.

In February 1982, Mr. Uhle sold his business to two of his employees, Jim and Jeff Steinbock who have dedicated themselves to keeping the Uhle tradition alive. The brothers excel at customer service and are very knowledgeable in all aspects of the tobacco business. In 2006 Jim retired from the tobacco industry to pursue other ventures, in a warmer climate.

The retail store was expanded in 1996 to 1600 square feet. The store was completely remodeled to include a comfortable smoking lounge with leather furniture, humidified lockers for customer storage, a well-stocked room for our vast array of pipes, tobaccos, and accessories, and expanded cigar display featuring a huge selection of premium cigars.

Uhle’s has a staff of dedicated professionals who are on hand to share their wealth of knowledge and to make you, the customer, feel welcome.

Over the years, Uhle’s has been the recipient of many awards and has customers all over the world. We are members of the Retail Tobacco Dealers of America, Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of commerce, Milwaukee Better Business Bureau, and Milwaukee Westowne Association.

 

Mr. Jeffery A. Steinbock- President

Jeff started his career at Uhle’s in 1974 working part time while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He became a full time Uhle’s employee in 1976, and under the guidance of Jack Uhle, soon mastered the art of blending the Uhle’s pipe tobacco. He became store manager in 1979 and when he and his brother bought the business, took on the job of Vice President.

With over 30 years in the business, Jeff has developed an extensive knowledge of pipes, pipe tobacco, and cigars. In fact he has taken what he has learned from Jack Uhle and E. Andrew and has created the J.S pipe that has been a big seller for our store. Married in 1975, Jeff and his lovely wife have four children and three grandchildren. He is a champion muskie fisherman, maker of guitars, and he and his wife enjoy ballroom dancing.