The sunny yellow walls of family-owned Habana Port Cigar Merchants exude a Caribbean flair and a warm, welcoming environment.
Father and son duo Roberto and Luis Molina started the cigar shop in Covington in 2010 and then expanded to Baton Rouge in 2013. Next year, the family will celebrate 15 years in business.
“We’re developing a brand of limited-run 15,000 cigars to celebrate the anniversary,” said Luis Molina, who manages the store in Baton Rouge full-time. “We’ll have our own brand.”
Habana Port Cigar Merchants Luis Molina on Monday, September 16, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
While he’s in Baton Rouge at 4715 Perkins Road, his father remains in Metairie.
An early interest in cigars
In the 1980s, Roberto Molina fled El Salvador during the civil war.
“My dad actually studied at (University of New Orleans),” Luis Molina said. “He graduated and started his roots in Louisiana. He loves this country so much. After he and my mom married, they had my brothers and me in New Orleans.”
Although his father was an entrepreneur in several business ventures, the family had very little to do with cigars until Luis Molina tried them at 16 years old. His curiosity turned into interest which evolved into a profession.
“Our origin story started because of my innate interest in cigars,” he said, “even though the first one I had was like a machine-made Optimo type. I don’t even remember the brand, but I knew then that I had to look into the real handmade cigars.”
Different brands of cigars from the shelfs of Habana Port Cigar Merchants on Monday, September 16, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Fortunately, a French Quarter cigar shop with hand-rolled cigars was nearby for him to explore.
Although he kept his love for cigars a secret for a few years out of fear of his parents’ disapproval, Luis Molina confessed his habit around 22. His parents were unconcerned. After college, he worked a summer job at Don Juan Cigar Company in Metairie. He flourished in the cigar world and helped to open another location.
The logical next step for him was to start his own cigar brand, or so he thought. The personal cigar brand didn’t work out, but he listened to his father, and they started a retail business.
“He saved the money in 2010,” Luis Molina said, “and that’s when we opened our first shop in Covington.”
A Native American statue graces the front of the Habana Port Cigar Merchants on Monday, September 16, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Cigar shops like Habana Port pay tribute to Native Americans who hold tobacco with high significance culturally and spiritually.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
A celebratory present for all
The Molinas opened the present Perkins Road location in 2022.
Upon entry, the ubiquitous statue of cigar shops, a Native American chief, stands to greet the customers. This is not an accident. This is Luis Molina’s tribute to Native Americans because they were the first in America to use tobacco and cultivate the crop.
Cigars are still popular in America for celebrations like business milestones, weddings, holidays, childbirths and championship games — who can forget Joe Burrow?
The Molinas provide a wide variety of quality cigars, from the expensive and elite to the every day favorites that don’t break the bank. Habana Port is an appointed merchant for luxury brands like Davidoff.
Regular customer Tom Maraist says what keeps him fighting through Baton Rouge traffic is the high quality of cigars and the great condition Habana Port keeps them in. Luis Molina keeps the shop at the perfect temperature and humidity to preserve the cigars’ quality and freshness.
Habana Port Cigar Merchants house many special cigars like these ultra-exclusive collaboration between Carlito Fuente and Jorge Padrón made to honor each others fathers in a special case on Monday, September 16, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
“A lot of shops will fill space with cheaper and lower quality cigars so it looks like they have a broad selection, when in fact they have much fewer cigars of middle to high quality than Habana Port,” Maraist said. “Habana Port’s selection is great and typically $1 to $2 less than other stores.”
Popular brands like Romeo y Julieta, Padrõn and Arturo Fuente line the shelves of the shop amongst many other smaller brands. The Molinas have also developed a long-term initiative of importing their own brand, Pelayo SMS, which is made in Nicaragua.
Habana Port supplies cigars from all over the world, but Luis Molina points out some of the best in this industry, the popular ones, are out of Nicaragua — considered one of the most elite countries when it comes to production and awards.
“We recently incorporated a new business in Louisiana called Casa Molina Cigars,” Luis Molina said. “This business will focus on importing our own brands made in the countries of the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua and distributing them throughout the United States to other cigar retailers, tobacconists and cigar bars.”
Habana Port Cigar Merchant’s Light House Lounge gives members a smoking lounge to enjoy cigars on Monday, September 16, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
The Lighthouse Lounge
Habana Port caters to its customers with two different sections of the building: the shop and the smoking rooms.
Habana Port does have a distinct tobacco scent, but it is not overwhelmed with acrid smoke.
“We decided to make the retail part nonsmoking, which might be viewed as contrary to most people. We found that it helps when people in business suits or ladies who don’t want the smoke on their clothing come into the store, and find a welcoming, clean space,” said Luis Molina.
However, customers who want to smoke and relax can do so in the store’s Lighthouse Lounge, which is accessible to members.
Pelayo SMS Toro cigars at Habana Port Cigar Merchants on Monday, September 16, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Private lockers and complimentary nonalcoholic drinks are perks of the membership to Lighthouse Lounge. Members can watch sports, the news, stocks or sit quietly and work in the comfortable rooms.
Ventilation systems operate throughout the lounge to suck out the smoke and expel it outside.
Approachable and accessible
Luis Molina says that his family strives to cultivate a welcoming atmosphere where regular customers are well known and new patrons can mill around and look at cases of the vast cigar selection. Employees are available for customer requests to get closer looks at the cigars.
The encased style of the shop began as a response to Covid restrictions, but it worked so well that the family decided to keep it.
Habana Port Cigar Merchant’s houses different smoking rooms to enjoy cigars on Monday, September 16, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Luis Molina said their desire is to continue honoring the traditional craft and increase product knowledge and engagement. He added that the layout of the shop helps to promote their commitment to more of a custom-tailored service instead of the walk-in humidor stores that are more common.
“I’ve had the chance to visit a lot of shops around the country, and what differentiates us from others is we want to welcome you to our establishment, and with our well-trained staff, help customers learn and find what they’re looking for,” he said.
He prides himself on the family philosophy of Habana Port. Along with his dad, his brother is invested and involved in the company, and Habana Port’s general manager has been there for eight years.
“We consider our staff and clients our family,” he said.
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Publish date : 2024-11-04 02:06:00
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