MATCHBOOK COLLECTING – Just for the Fun of It
The coronavirus pandemic has reduced travel as well as everyday things we do such as dining out. While we are aware of a few places that have decided to close permanently, hopefully, we will continue to be able to find places that have matchbooks or matchboxes with their names and that matchbooktraveler can still be a guide for collectors.
Remember – Matchbooks not out for the taking? Be sure to ask if the place has matchbooks with its name.
On this page are states, provinces, and countries showing places we are aware of that have matchbooks or matchboxes (whether with matches, notepaper, toothpicks, or mints) with their names.
If you know of additional places that have matchbooks with their names on them, whether from your travels or from the area where you live, please send us an email (to jxw22000 at yahoo.com) with their names and addresses. We would be glad to list them on this site.
Don’t forget to bookmark our site. And, we are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/matchbooktraveler. Visit us for a look at some favorite matchboxes and matchbooks.
Here are monthly updates about restaurants with matches (and hotels, too):
With September 2023, matches have been found in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at Grace & Proper and in Jersey City, New Jersey, at Cellar 335. In Connecticut, Il Pellicano and Sophie’s Pizza Bar in Fairfield and Nomade in Westport have matches while in California, Auberge du Soleil and Bear at Stanly Ranch in Napa have matches as well as Harvest Table and Press in St. Helena. In New York City, New York, be sure to visit Avra Madison Estiatorio, Bar Orai, La Goulue, Match 65 Brasserie, Club Macanudo, Panorama Room, Pineapple Club, and JG Melon. And, in Chicago, visit Aba, Fox Bar, and Peanut Park.
It is a new month — August 2023 — and matches have been found in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where CRU, Current Vintage, Greydon House, Lemon Press, Millie’s, and NanTaco have matches with their names and, in Salem, Red Lion Smoke Shop. In Bozeman, Montana, Tune Up Basement Bar has matches. In Minnesota, Sooki & Mimi in Minneapolis plus Apostle Supper Club and Mancini’s in St. Paul all have matches. Original Joe’s and Pier 23 in San Francisco, California, have matches as do Basan in Detroit, Graduate Rock Bar in East Lansing, and Flyleaf in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. In New York City, New York, Employees Only, Extra Virgin, Holywater, Jeffrey’s Grocery, and The Noortwyk have matches with their names. In New Jersey, Agricola, The Meeting House, and Tommy’s Tavern & Tap in Princeton and Sergeantsville Inn in Sergeantsville have matches. Giuseppe & Sons, Harp & Crown, and Parc in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have matches, too, as does Stem Bar in Montreal, Quebec. In Chicago, Illinois, Bar Mar, Bellevue, Cafe Sophie, Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, Etta, Gemini, Joe’s Seafood, Maple & Ash, and Tortoise Supper Club have matches with their names while in Nashville, Tennessee, House of Cards has matches, in Tampa, Florida, Willa’s has matches and in Charleston, South Carolina, 167 Raw has matches.
July 2023 started quickly with matches at No Goodbyes in Washington, District of Columbia, Marisi in San Diego (La Jolla), California, Maynard’s in Rogers, Minnesota and Best Intentions in Chicago, Illinois. In New York City, New York, All & Sundry, Anotheroom, Beyond the Pale, Boucherie Union Square, Ivory Peacock, Le Dive, Macao Trading Company, Pastis, and Split 8’s (all in Manhattan)have matches with their names as does Sixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn). Meanwhile, in Michigan, Market North End in Birmingham, Shute’s Saloon in Calumet, Kelly’s Bar in Hamtramck, Island Resort & Casino in Harris, and Ronin in Royal Oak have matches as do Grazie, Joso’s, and Union in Toronto, Ontario, and Zuma in Boston, Massachusetts. Pal’s Lounge in New Orleans, Louisiana, has matches with its name as well as Time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , and Bardog Tavern in Memphis, Tennessee.
June 2023 started quickly with matches at Pines Liquor Shop in Fire Island Pines, New York, plus Mel’s Pizza and South Soho Bar in New York City Manhattan and Bar Beau, Doris, and King Tai in Brooklyn. Both Ventura’s Greenhouse in Margate and My Fair Trade Lady in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, have matches with their names.
And, in Austin, Texas, both Guero’s and The Meteor have matches as does bartaco in Nashville, Tennessee, and Shore Leave in Boston, Massachusetts. And, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Murphy’s has matches.
May 2023 has started with matches at Prunella in Philadelphia plus Poco’s in Doylestown, and Best Cigar Pub in Drums, Pennsylvania. Matches have been found in New York City, New York, at Albert’s Bar, Boucherie, The Carlyle, Discolo, DS & Durga, Due West, The Dutch, Emmett’s, Joseph Leonard, Lafayette Grand Cafe, Left Bank, Left Bank Books, Lelabar, The Mark, Monkey Bar, Olio e Piu, The Penrose, Saint Theo’s, Sant Ambroeus, Uva, Uva Next Door, and Via Carota; and in Brooklyn at Catbird, Pizza Loves Emily, Sisters, and LaLou plus Solevo Kitchen in Saratoga Springs. Brewski’s Draft Emporium and Busters in Fayetteville, Arkansas, have matches with their names as does Lonesome Rose in Chicago, Illinois. In Boston, Massachusetts, Rochambeau has matches as does Tommy’s Tavern & Tap in Morris Plains, New Jersey. In Juneau, Alaska, Red Dog Saloon has matches and in Seattle, Washington, Willmott’s Ghost has matches, too.
In April 2023, it was a good start to the month given that matches were found in California at Missing Aubrey (San Francisco) and Bombera (Oakland); in New York City, New York, at Botanica Bar, Fairfax Tavern, The Grand Daddy, Jolene, Liberty Bistro, The Nines, Pebble Bar, Rubirosa, Strip House (12th) and Toad Hall; plus Clem’s, Le Crocodile, Harlequin Vintage, Skinny Dennis, and Turk’s Inn in Brooklyn and Rolo’s in Queens; and in Asheville, North Carolina, at Bargello. In Charleston, South Carolina, a number of places have been found with matches: Brasserie La Banque, Candlefish, Darling Oyster Bar, Dewberry Hotel, Doar Bros., Felix, Halls Chop House, Henry’s, Island Provisions, Millers All Day, Rancho Lewis, The Rarebit, Southbound, and Tommy Condons, while in Sullivan’s Island, Sullivan’s Fish Camp has matches, too, as does the Johns Island location of Island Provisions and The Salty Dog Cafe in Hilton Head Island. Gilligan’s in Siesta Key and Dwell Home Market in Tampa, Florida, have matches as do Joe Leo Fine Tex Mex and Sister in Dallas, Texas. In Montreal, Quebec, Bar George and Pullman have matches with their names.
March 2023 started with matches in Jackson, New Jersey, at Sola Bella. In Vancouver, British Columbia, Laowai has matches with its name. In New York City, New York, Hotel Chelsea, Edie Parker, Jalao, KGB Bar, and The Niche Shop have matches while in Brooklyn, Friends has matches. In Columbus, Ohio, matches have been found at Stump Plants and, in Lexington, Kentucky, at County Club Restaurant. Mulligan’s and The Bailey Cafe and Bar in Dublin, Ireland, have matches, too. March ended in Mississippi with matches at Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville and Island View Casino in Gulfport.
For February 2023, matches started with Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with matches at: Edith Lucielle’s Bait Shop & Wing Depot. In Charleston, South Carolina, matches have been found at Harold’s Cabin and Rancho Lewis. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there are matches at Pearl & Mary and Vintage Wine Bar. In Las Vegas, Nevada, Frankie’s Tiki Room and Mothership Coffee Roasters have matches.
For January 2023, matches started with Gemini in Chicago, Illinois, The Smoke Shop in Boston, Massachusetts, Bar de Courelle in Montreal, Quebec, and The Dubliner in Washington, District of Columbia. In Texas, matches have been found in Austin at Austin Motel, Bobalu Cigar Co., Cafe No Se, Carpenter Hotel, Casino El Camino, La Condesa, Diner Bar, Eberly, Frazier’s, Goldies, Guero’s, Hotel San Jose, Lambert’s, Monkey See Monkey Do!, Nickel City, Peacock, Perla’s, La Piscina, Suerte, Uchiko, Vince Young Steakhouse, Wax Myrtle’s, and Wisler’s and in San Antonio at Esquire Tavern. In St. Augustine, Florida, Fish Camp, Stogies, and Trade Winds Lounge have matches.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, began December 2022 with matches at Bud & Marilyn’s while in Newtown, Isaac Newton’s has matches and, in Pittsburgh, Love, Pittsburgh has matches. In Davison, Michigan, Whitey’s has matches with its name. In Montreal, Quebec, Le Darling has matches, too. Central Park Bar in Chicago, Illinois, Hard Rock Casino in Gary, Indiana, and Lakeway Liquor in Oak Ridge, Texas, all have matches with their names.
Our thanks to the bulletins of the Empire Matchcover Club and Liberty Bell Matchcover Club for printing articles mentioning places that have matchbooks or matchboxes with their names.