Tobacco Business

[ T O B A C C O B U S I N E S S . C O M ] TOBACCO BUSINESS [ 49 ] Since it first opened its doors in 2017, Phoenix, Arizona-based Embargo Cigars has become a cigar destination for cigar smokers in search of something new and different. Before Abe Froman launched Embargo, he had an epiphany—there was opportunity to be had doing things as he wanted rather than how others told him to. Whereas the more traditional tobacconist typically stocks their store’s shelves with recognized brands, Froman instead embraces the lesser-known boutique brands. Today, the cigar industry is full of up-and-coming “new” brands like Cavalier Geneve or Oveja Negra that are producing cigars that excite cigar smokers. There are also boutique brands that are more established, such as Tatuaje and Room101, that have loyal followings of cigar smokers who are constantly seeking out each of their releases. While Embargo Cigars wasn’t Froman’s first choice for a name for his tobacco business, it was inspired by his deep appreciation for and knowledge of the cigar category. “I tried to think of a name that was unique to the industry and that hadn’t been overused but still paid homage to the industry. We’re not for the embargo, and we’re not against the embargo, but you cannot deny the Cuban roots of the term ‘embargo.’ Cuba is where the industry started. It’s the foundation of our industry, and the term embargo, for me and many others, really clicks.” Froman’s understanding of tobacco retail sets him and his store apart from others. While the products he stocks in his store are important, so is the appreciation he has for all facets of the cigarmaking industry. The passion he has for the industry and his profession, he explains, must be shared by everyone that works within his business and must be passed on to every customer that walks through the doors of Embargo Cigars. “This is a luxury business. This is a personal relationship business. This is a business where you literally have people come in and they’re burning money with you. They can go to any number of places, but our customers choose to come here,” says Froman. Customers of Embargo Cigars recognize and share in Froman’s love for the cigars. Some of the store’s patrons travel as far as 150 miles to take part in the business Froman has built. He has some customers that are local, some that travel from other areas of Arizona and even a few from other states. The biggest payoff for Froman has been the impact he’s had on the lives of others and how he’s been able to create a business that not only welcomes people from all walks of life but that ultimately makes people happy. Reworking the Ratio Froman discovered cigars when he was still young. While on the way to a Dodgers game with a friend, Froman smoked a Swisher Sweet Perfecto with a friend. Shortly thereafter, he tried to recreate that experience, but this time, the cigar-smoking experience was far from ideal. In 1995, when he was just 18 years old and living in San Diego, a friend informed him of a job opportunity that involved working in a local cigar store they both frequented. Froman applied for the job, figuring it would help him pay for college expenses but not knowing it would serve as a precursor to what would become a long career in tobacco retail. “I absolutely loved the industry,” he says. “That was an incredible time in this industry to get into cigar smoking. It was back in the mid-ʼ90s when the Cigar Boom was going on. I don’t think you could have asked for a better time to be able to discover this industry. I was working there five, six days a week, and I worked there for about six years.” In 2001, Froman moved from Arizona to California. At the time, Froman was focused on his real estate career, which had him commuting between the two states regularly for work. When he first arrived in Arizona, he realized the area was severely lacking in cigar stores, which gave him the inspiration that maybe he could start his own. His real estate career kept him busy, and it wasn’t until that idea came to mind again that he decided to act on it. Five years ago, Froman was helping a friend who owned a cigar shop find a new location for his store after his lease had ended. A property was acquired, but his friend was unable to go through with the deal, leaving Froman to figure out what to do with the site. Froman was helping his friend secure a new location for his store because he wanted a place where he could hang out and smoke a cigar. After a couple of months, Froman decided on how to handle the property—he’d use it to help him fulfill his longtime dreams of starting his own cigar lounge.