At 8 years old, Gilbert Flores sampled his first cigar. When his father caught him at the kitchen table with his pile of freshly rolled cigars, he tried to test the boy.
“When I didn’t choke,” said Flores last week, “I think then he knew I would bring him a little trouble in life.”
Flores, who grew up in Union City, is one of four sons carrying on the tradition of their father Carlos, a master roller and creator of Flor de Florez cigars.
Today, he owns a cigar store in Weehawken.
Began in Cuba
Flores talked about the origins of his business last week.
“My father rolled his first cigar at age 10 in a factory in Cuba,” said Flores. “When he fled the Castro regime for the U.S., all he was able to bring was his wife, kids, and tobacco seeds.”
Upon arriving in the United States, the patriarch of the Flores family gained renown for the cigars, which Carlos took from the neighborhood to the national market in the 1980s.
The young Gilbert Flores had been working in one of the family shops in Hoboken before he recently opened up his own cigar shop and lounge in Weehawken.
“I wanted to move here for a bigger space,” said Flores. “It’s demographically desirable, and I’ve always had an affinity for this road.” The space on Willow Avenue is near the Hoboken border.
Flores can still see his current retail space as it was when he was a child. “It was an old TV repair store,” he said. “I remember the old man watching me as I would ride by outside.”
Havana on the Hudson opened on Dec. 1 and Flores said he has built a strong following of clientele in just a couple of months. “It’s really promising,” said Flores.
Changing times
While Flores’ new business is flourishing, he does acknowledge the challenges of the cigar industry in light of recent tobacco legislation. While none of the cigars carried in his shop are machine made or have the chemicals and additives which are under scrutiny in other tobacco products, he is still subject to the same taxation.
“It’s the perfect way to unwind at the end of a hard day, there’s even a business networking element.” – Roger Corrado
________
Increased federal taxation on cigars helped cause one of the oldest cigar factories in the United States to close its doors last year. The Hav-a-Tampa plant in Florida had been operating since 1902 before it shut down and laid off roughly 500 employees. Then, it moved its plant to Puerto Rico.
“Now more people are out of jobs,” said Flores. “You would think someone would stick up for the small guy, but it’s like anything else. If you doesn’t affect you, who cares? Until it does.”
Industry woes aside, Flores prefers to focus on the finer side of his trade.
“I’m fortunate enough to know some great people in the industry,” he said. “I want to provide an excellent product and educate people about the cigars’ fine elements.”
Social aspect
Flores provides a sort of “Cigar 101” at dinners and cigar tastings, where he talks about the fine art of cigars “from seed to smoke.” He also enjoys sharing his love of the craft with those who come into the shop and hang out in the lounge.
“It’s home-like,” said Roger Corrado, a Weehawken resident and frequent customer. “There’s good music and we watch the games here.”
Tony Guglielmelli, who has known Flores since they were kids, enjoys collaborating with the different people in the lounge.
“The business network is great,” said Guglielmelli. “A lot of different people come in and it’s a nice place to meet others.” He added that the clientele he’s seen in the shop has been a mixture of both men and women from early 20s to 70s.
A grand opening and ribbon cutting is scheduled for Feb. 11 which will bring Mayor Richard Turner, as well as some professional athletes, actors, and other special guests to the shop. “It’ll be all day,” said Flores. “Starting and noon and going until at least 10 p.m., nothing but Havana rhythms.”
Lana Rose Diaz can be reached at ldiaz@hudsonreporter.com.