Erik, David, and Roger (l to r)
Saturday March 31st, 2012 was yet another typically gray and wet early spring day in Vancouver. However, there was at least one oasis of warmth to be had; the 13th Anniversary Celebration at City Cigar Emporium (http://www.citycigarcompany.com/). Erik Olsen (President of the “Society of Unrepentant Cigar Connoisseurs” http://www.westcoastcigarclub.com/index.html) and I had made the long, dreary drive into Vancouver and we were delighted to be beckoned by the sounds of celebration as we walked towards the door. The owners and staff at City Cigar welcomed one and all to their party with warm hellos, music, a veritable feast of a buffet, a great selection of cigars and cigar paraphernalia – much of which was discounted just for this event, and even special gifts for their customers.
We spent a good amount of time browsing among the unusually (at least for a Canadian cigar store) large number of cigar facings and lines. We also looked at all the other “cigar stuff” on display; the lighters, cutters, ashtrays, and humidors. And we perused City Cigar’s very commendable selection of pipes, pipe tobacco, pipe accessories, Hookahs, and Shisha. I should explain here that while a cigar store with a large, diverse selection is not uncommon to my readers in the United States; sadly, it is very rare for those of us residing here in the “Great White North”.
As luck would have it, just as we were about to take our leave; we ran into David Kariotakis, City Cigar’s resident Cigar Culture Ambassador. David and I were introduced when I first came into this store nearly thirteen years ago. At that time, there was a cigar lounge attached to the store (something since outlawed by Vancouver’s by-laws and the province’s fanatical, draconian, and hypocritical anti-tobacco laws) and we forged a friendship out of our shared mutual passion for cigars and the Cigar Culture over many an afternoon and evening of cigars, bevies, and conversation. I asked David about the founding philosophy behind his decision to start the business. He recalled that in 1999, the “cigar boom” had just about run its course and while there were a number of cigar stores in Vancouver and the surrounding area; there didn’t seem to be anyone championing the concept of a “Cigar Culture” locally. At this juncture, David made a point of saying he didn’t want to be seen as slighting any of his predecessors – he even specifically thanked pioneers in the local cigar scene (like RJ Clarke) for blazing a trail for his business. He noted that from the onset, his goal was not only to sell cigars but also to promote the lifestyle… the Cigar Culture. David went about this with an almost palpable passion; he introduced us (the local cigar guys) to the world of cigar events. Many in the local cigar community had never had the opportunity to experience cigar-centric events: there were few to none held in the Vancouver area. Over the past thirteen years, David and the staff at City Cigar have hosted many successful cigar events. The events are literally too many to list but the “best of” must include the annual “Smoke on the Water” harbour cruise, the “Cigars and Port” evening at the Sutton Place Hotel (with Port courtesy of the Portuguese Consulate and introducing the RyJ Edmundo), and the recent sold-out Cigar Dinner at the Shaughnessy Country Club (featuring the hand-rolling of Cuban cigars by Master Torcedor Hamlet Paredes).
David’s frequent business travels and familial responsibilities have made it rare for us to actually sit down and share the camaraderie of the cigar over the past few years. However, in just a few minutes of conversation, it was clear that David was, and still is, a gracious and passionate Ambassador for the Cigar Culture. Yes, it is true that City Cigar is in the business of selling cigars and accessories… where they stand apart is with their people. David and the folks at City Cigar genuinely promote the Cigar Culture; the camaraderie, the passion, the willingness to share knowledge… and they’ve done so for thirteen years!
My thanks to Constance, David, and the entire staff at City Cigar for being a cornerstone of the Cigar Culture in Vancouver. Congratulations on thirteen great years… may there be many, many more to come.
With cigar in hand,
Roger
East to Hedon
East to Hedon 