Sunday, April 28, 2024
David Lampert, owner of Granbury Cigar Company, has more than 30 years’ experience in the cigar business, and said he enjoys listening to the many stories from customers who are also retired military veterans.
Tom Willis lights a cigar Tuesday afternoon at Granbury Cigar Company, a cigar shop that has been owned by David Lampert for the past three years.
Dave Jansen takes a long drag from a cigar Tuesday afternoon at Granbury Cigar Company, located at 201 Kings Plaza.
Backgammon is Granbury Cigar Company’s game of choice — perfect for customers to smoke a fat stogie and relax from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
The yellow and red walls at Granbury Cigar Company give off a cheery and homey vibe, while the lounge area provides a space for customers to relax, drink, and play a friendly game of backgammon.
Many people hear the words “cigar shop” and immediately picture it as a place for older men to kick back and smoke — hence the phrase “fogies with stogies.”
But David Lampert, owner of Granbury Cigar Company, has a different perspective.
“It's really a cool kind of energy,” he said. “One thing about cigar people is they relax to find that space, that meditative state (and a way to) decompress. I've been in (the trade) long enough to know that (with cigars), it's a community and it's a culture.”
Lampert, who has been in the cigar business for more than 30 years, started out as a sales representative in distribution before working for Rocky Patel — the cigar industry’s most recognizable businessman — in manufacturing.
"I worked my way into training manager, sales manager, VP (vice president) of sales, and then I ended up somehow in Granbury,” he said, chuckling. “Which is awesome.”
He moved from Illinois to Granbury four years ago when he was asked to become the managing director of Micallef Cigars in Weatherford.
But the draw to pursue another business venture was too strong for Lampert to ignore.
With the help of three local cigar enthusiasts, he made the decision to open Granbury Cigar Company at 201 Kings Plaza in March 2020 — at the height of COVID.
“I opened at a really tough time, but the community has been so amazing,” he said. “A lot of people moved here because of this shop, and they tell their stories all the time. How they were looking at different areas, and while the wife was looking at the house, the husband came in here for a cigar, loved the energy, loved the people, loved the views, so they moved here. It became a thing of its own.”
The yellow and red walls at Granbury Cigar Company give off a cheery and homey vibe, while the lounge area provides a space for customers to relax, drink, and play a game of backgammon.
“What's cool about it is we have so many new people that move to our community and they don't know anybody, so what do they do? They come here,” Lampert said. “You don't have to drink. You're welcome to, but you don't have to. There are people, retired drinkers I call them, and they feel very comfortable, so there's no pressure to do it and the guys support each other.”
With supporters from not only Granbury, but also Pecan Plantation and DeCordova, Lampert said his business has started to draw in more of a younger crowd — and females.
“We have a lot of women too. I would say 20% (of the customers are female),” he said. “During the day, it's usually retired guys who come and hang out. It's amazing. We have every walk of life here. We have young guys, 21, who are just starting to get into it, and they're getting more and more invested. We have a good crowd — a lot of regulars.”
He said he’s especially enjoyed hearing the “amazing” stories from retired athletes and Vietnam military pilots.
"I never served but it's really awesome,” he said. “I really have a whole different view of the quality and character of those who served. We are so lucky."
In fact, it’s because of those retired veterans that the walls of Lampert’s shop are covered with war-related décor representing all the different branches of the military.
“I can't tell you how many of these guys have thanked me for giving them a place to go and meet people, but customer service is what it's all about,” he said. “My goal here is to get people to just relax and enjoy themselves. I want them to find the best cigar they can for the best value and just enjoy it. It's fun for me.”
Granbury Cigar Company boasts numerous display cases containing a variety of 600 different cigars or “facings.”
Lampert added that if a specific cigar is well-liked by the public, it will stick around.
“We represent four or five different accessory companies,” he said. “We can get anything if we don't have it. I pride myself on having a great selection, great prices, great service, and a great place to hang out— that's one thing that I hope I can always make sure that we offer.”
Lampert said he loves the art form of cigars and how they’re all handmade, adding that he likes to drink coffee, Diet Dr Pepper, or diet root beer while smoking one.
“There's not much left in this world that’s all done by hand, aged, and consistent and that's the big part of what I love about it,” he said.
As for the future of Granbury Cigar Company, Lampert said he hopes to expand the business into a 24/7 lounge with features like a movie theater and a game room.
“It's our third year. We plan on growing,” he said. “So, that's kind of our long-term plan, and we feel the need for it with having a lot of pilots in different walks of life, especially in Granbury. A lot of these guys want to come in at four or two in the morning if they're coming back from the airport. I think a dream would be to have a 24/7 separate lounge where everybody can enjoy and then have our retail space.”
Granbury Cigar Company is open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, visit the Facebook page, Granbury Cigar Company or call 682-205-3334.
“Our customers have really made something out of (Granbury Cigar Company),” Lampert added. “You're part of the family and that's really what it’s all about.”
