“I started as a casual cigar smoker (maybe once or twice a month) back in 1990 when I was in the bar business. I had a couple of regular customers that had a monthly cigar & poker night … that's where it all started. I stayed a casual smoker for the next few years. During that time, I chewed leaf tobacco also … lots of it. I used to work a graveyard shift in a warehouse back then, so chewing tobacco was pretty much an all-night thing. In 1996 while looking to purchase a gift for a friend, I went into a local cigar shop. I picked up a couple of sticks for my friend and a couple for myself. Before long I was stopping by that shop once a week to restock. A couple of years later, I found my way over to Tobacco Republic in Loomis, got to know the owner, and that has been my "go to" place ever since. I've met a lot of great people over the years. Now when my wife and I travel, not only are we looking for local craft breweries wherever we go, but we also search out the local cigar lounge. I've really come to enjoy the time that I spend with good friends & good cigars.”