Shawn Phillips’ morning routine includes puffing on a premium cigar, hanging out with his best buds, all while listening to some of his favorite tunes.
And although it may sound like he’s enjoying a casual day off; it’s actually a normal business day for him.
Phillips is the owner of a newly opened cigar store in downtown Tulare.
The Cigar Store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, at 232 N. K St., in Tulare.
Philips said he’s been in the cigar business for 11 years. His love for the work came when he first learned the history of cigars and the craftsmanship behind the tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leafs.
And those in the store are just that, he said.
“All of our cigars are hand rolled premium cigars,” Phillips said. “They come from Nicaragua, followed by the Dominican Republic, and we also carry Honduran cigars.”
Phillips started his cigar career in the late 1990s when he opened an original store in Visalia, alongside his wife who owns Essentials clothing in downtown.
Together, the couple wanted to open clothing stores in surrounding cities, so they sold the cigar place. Today, Sequoia Cigar Company is still open, and is located on north Locust Street.
It was a bittersweet moment for Phillips, however, as he wanted to pursue a business venture with his wife. At the same time, it meant he would be stepping out of the cigar world for a while.
Nevertheless, Phillips’ love for the work remained, he said. Two years ago the Elderwood resident reopened a cigar store in Exeter. But, with little traction there, he decided to close it and open in Tulare.
“I knew Tulare didn’t have a place like this,” he said. “We’re picking up new Tulare customers every day.”
Now he’s starting to see customers from all over come in, he said, including many of his Exeter and Visalia patrons.
“Tulare needs a place for the guys to hang out and be men,” Phillips said he hears from his customers.
Customers like Mike Gotori, who oftentimes can be found hanging out in the store on his day off.
The 54-year-old Visalia man said the trip to Tulare is worth his time because of the service and environment given in the shop.
“What I like about it here, is that [Shawn] doesn’t sell cigarettes,” Gotori said. “So it brings in a different clientele base, and it’s just a nice place to hang out.”
Phillips said a good amount of his Exeter customers also work in Tulare, so having the shop relocated has been a convenient move for everyone.
“A lot of my Exeter customers work in Tulare,” he said. “They want to be able to run in on their lunch, enjoy a cigar, and run out. This works very well for that.”
Gotori said Phillips’ interest in cigars and interest in helping new customers pick out just the right smoke is what makes the place welcoming.
“I love cigars,” Phillips said. “I love the history and the art of cigars; I love everything about them.”
The Cigar Store features a dart board, a hand built humidor with reclaimed wood and a wide variety of premium cigars and sizes to choose from.
And although it may sound like he’s enjoying a casual day off; it’s actually a normal business day for him.
Phillips is the owner of a newly opened cigar store in downtown Tulare.
The Cigar Store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, at 232 N. K St., in Tulare.
Philips said he’s been in the cigar business for 11 years. His love for the work came when he first learned the history of cigars and the craftsmanship behind the tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leafs.
And those in the store are just that, he said.
“All of our cigars are hand rolled premium cigars,” Phillips said. “They come from Nicaragua, followed by the Dominican Republic, and we also carry Honduran cigars.”
Phillips started his cigar career in the late 1990s when he opened an original store in Visalia, alongside his wife who owns Essentials clothing in downtown.
Together, the couple wanted to open clothing stores in surrounding cities, so they sold the cigar place. Today, Sequoia Cigar Company is still open, and is located on north Locust Street.
It was a bittersweet moment for Phillips, however, as he wanted to pursue a business venture with his wife. At the same time, it meant he would be stepping out of the cigar world for a while.
Nevertheless, Phillips’ love for the work remained, he said. Two years ago the Elderwood resident reopened a cigar store in Exeter. But, with little traction there, he decided to close it and open in Tulare.
“I knew Tulare didn’t have a place like this,” he said. “We’re picking up new Tulare customers every day.”
Now he’s starting to see customers from all over come in, he said, including many of his Exeter and Visalia patrons.
“Tulare needs a place for the guys to hang out and be men,” Phillips said he hears from his customers.
Customers like Mike Gotori, who oftentimes can be found hanging out in the store on his day off.
The 54-year-old Visalia man said the trip to Tulare is worth his time because of the service and environment given in the shop.
“What I like about it here, is that [Shawn] doesn’t sell cigarettes,” Gotori said. “So it brings in a different clientele base, and it’s just a nice place to hang out.”
Phillips said a good amount of his Exeter customers also work in Tulare, so having the shop relocated has been a convenient move for everyone.
“A lot of my Exeter customers work in Tulare,” he said. “They want to be able to run in on their lunch, enjoy a cigar, and run out. This works very well for that.”
Gotori said Phillips’ interest in cigars and interest in helping new customers pick out just the right smoke is what makes the place welcoming.
“I love cigars,” Phillips said. “I love the history and the art of cigars; I love everything about them.”
The Cigar Store features a dart board, a hand built humidor with reclaimed wood and a wide variety of premium cigars and sizes to choose from.
| Source: http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com |
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