Meet Jacobo Gaitan | Cigar Store Owner, Master Cigar Sommelier

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jacobo Gaitan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacobo, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I grew up in the Jamastran Valley in Honduras. Tobacco is one of the main products that grown in that region, real close to Danli, where cigar factories are one of the biggest employers. I spent a lot of time visiting factories when I was assigned to the Army base in Honduras, visiting my uncle, Bayron Duarte, who at the time was in charge of quality control in one if the big factories. Years later, my uncle and his business partners started their own brand of cigars, Oscar Valladares Cigars, and I started going to the annual premium cigars trade show with them until 2017, when I decided to open my own store.

Part of attending trade shows and other cigar events, is visiting cigar lounges everywhere you go. I got the idea of opening a lounge because I enjoyed the comradery and the conversations I have with people that when you first meet them, the only thing you have in common is the love of cigars. By opening a cigar lounge right outside Fort Cavazos, I created a place where active duty military, retirees, and people from all walks of life get together and share their passion for the leaf.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I opened my cigar store in 2017, right after coming back from that year’s trade show in Las Vegas. I started really small in the town of Lampasas, TX, and primarily online, because I knew it was not going to be easy. I knew a lot about cigars, but I knew nothing about the federal and starte regulations that apply to tobacco products, and there are a lot.

Attending the trade shows with my uncle as an exhibitor allowed me to meet other cigar manufacturers and brand owners who did not hesitate when I asked them if I could carry their cigars in my little store. I started purchasing cigars and learning about taxes and monthly reports as I went along the way, making mistakes mainly because I didn’t know about this or that. After two years in my original location, I relocated to Killeen, where I saw my business grow exponentially as the lounge has become a popular place for grown people to hang out.

I’ve been personally thanked by Soldiers who spent two or three years in Fort Cavazos for providing a place for them to blow some steam after a long day or week of work. There is always someone to talk to at the Leaf Affair, is one of the comments I frequently hear. As a Veteran, I made the decision to give military discounts to active duty, veterans, and retirees, as well as law enforcement and firefighters. My wife Marcey is a school teacher, so we also give discount to teachers.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When family and friends come for a visit, I always get them a pass to Fort Cavazos and take them to the outdoor museum where tanks, helicopters and other large weapons and vehicles are displayed going back to WWI.

The town of Salado is also a place to go. There are lots of things to do there within walking distance. Bars, breweries, restaurants, antiques, craft stores, coffee shops, and oh, did I mention I opened another Leaf Affair Cigar Shop there? It’s a muchs smaller store but it also has a nice lounge and walking humidor.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Most of the credit for me going into the cigar industry goes to my uncle Bayron Duarte. Besides being a Cigar Master Blender and Master Sommelier, he is a great human being, a person who will give you the shirt off his back, like the saying goes. Growing up with him in Honduras, and seeing how far he’s gotten with his relentless efforts is inspirational and a motivation for me.

Website: leafaffair.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leafaffair?mibextid=JRoKGi

Image Credits
Jake Gaitan