“I needed to point out folks Black excellence. I needed to carry the Black neighborhood collectively, and present folks the place there are dapper males,” Debonair Cigar Lounge proprietor Antonio Martin tells EBONY. “You come into the lounge, there’s jazz enjoying, it is clean. It is a sure degree of sophistication, which is not discovered typically in LA. We’re exhibiting there are professionals past sports activities and appearing; we’re right here.”
A navy veteran, Martin says he type of stumbled into the cigar world. His enterprise associate had a ardour for sticks and slowly turned Martin right into a connoisseur. As soon as Martin retired from the Navy and relocated to LA, he needed to carry one thing completely different to town’s panorama. A have to fill a void for a extra elevated vibe, he sought to carry what was lacking.
“For man Black entrepreneurs right here, their companies are exterior of LA. I needed one thing in the midst of town that was for us. In fact, there have been some challenges. LA and surrounding areas aren’t large followers of smoking typically, in order that was one of many largest hurdles to recover from. To not point out, we’re in a distinct segment market. Not everybody smokes cigars, and we’re in Cali, the place marijuana is large. So, we actually needed to introduce them to cigar smoking.”
In line with Antonio Martin, the actual key to his success within the area has been his workforce and the folks round him. To different aspiring entrepreneurs, he emphasizes that being approachable and coachable are essential to actually develop any model, as a result of there shall be instances when it’s possible you’ll not know every thing that is proper for what you are promoting.
“Do not take it as a unfavorable,” he shares. “You need to be keen to pay attention and be taught. Usually within the cigar business, issues are inclined to skew towards a sure demographic they usually’re profitable. So it’s a must to, at instances, take a look at the issues that work for them and implement that into your individual model. That approach, not solely are you pulling in your instant neighborhood, however exterior communities, too.”
Inside Debonair Cigar Lounge, the environment may be very inviting. You will discover heat, Earth tones merged into the decor. The workforce can also be large on weaving in facets of the cultures wherein cigar making are discovered—Cuba and different Latin nations. You will discover images of a few of Black tradition’s biggest people, like Richard Pryor and extra. It is a very intentional transfer in hopes of paying homage to Black tradition and historical past. Additionally, Martin curates the expertise so that everybody walks away with having discovered one thing.
“Outdoors of smoking cigars, I wish to educate folks. I need them to depart actually realizing concerning the tradition and see themselves in it. I all the time attempt to share the actual origins of cigars and cigar rolling.”
Seeing that not everybody likes cigar smoke, however extra so the social facet and networking alternatives concerned, the Debonair workforce additionally hosts occasions in different venues and areas throughout Los Angeles to make sure everybody seems like they’re part of the larger neighborhood.
