Cuban cigar making waves

 

By: Bela Antonio

A local cigar shop has yet to see any changes with regards to the recent adjustments to the US-Cuban trade embargo.

La Casa Del Habano sells a huge range of Cuban cigars.

Jay Henderson, 45, manager of the shop believes cigar shops became popular back in the 90’s.

“Cigar stores in the 90’s became quite a popular thing, there was a big revival with high-end cigars and all things Cuban,” says Henderson.

Cuban cigars are the most popular cigar type. There are different types of cigars such as, Wrapper, Filler and Binder but La Casa Del Habano’s top selling cigar is the Cuban cigars.

According to Henderson, the shop also sells pipes, pipe tobacco, lighters, and more.

“We started getting into men’s shaving supplies. Brushers and the straight razors, that sort of thing”.

Details of the embargo are still unclear to some cigar venders. According to Henderson, the ban on cigars has not been completely lifted but has adjusted.

“They have listed the restrictions as far as Americans bringing Cuban cigars into the states, but technically for the US and Cuba, the embargo is still there since they’re not doing business directly with each other,” said Henderson.

Nina Lucier, a clerk at Ray & Kim’s Super Convenience store often sell cigars to many American customers.

“I’d say probably 35 per cent American business comes in. It was high back when you didn’t have to have a passport to cross the border, but it’s less now.”

Lucier says she has not seen any difference in the amount of American customers seeking Cuban cigars.

“I find we still have the same amount of business because the younger Americans don’t know the rules yet. Whether or not they can bring it back so they just want to come here and try,” says Lucier.