Cigar Companero Premiere Edition 2008 Havana Cigars

The beauty of Arizona is the wonderful weather experienced most of the year. On November 12th 2007 the day was an unusually warm day in the lower 80's. After sundown with the festivities at Havana Cigars well under way, the temperature dropped down into the mild mid 70's. Perfect weather for the events that are transpiring under the Arizona sky in a small Del Webb Community called Anthem, just bordered on the northern most border of Phoenix, Arizona.
Outside of the elegantly designed cigar shop in the parking lot was tables decorated with candles and surrounded by some old fashioned looking main street lights. Kind of an old fashioned type Main Street look that easily accommodated the well over 200 people who showed up to see Rocky Patel and help celebrate the Grand Opening of Havana Cigars of Anthem, Arizona.

We arrived about 4 pm and Rocky was already onsite making his tour of the store and commenting on the old fashioned and elegant look of the new store in Arizona. Entering into one of the largest walk in humidors in the country, he walked straight in to the huge inventory of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars. Hanging directly over the Rocky Patel inventory was a huge wooden Rocky Patel cigar, the same type as seen decorated on the outside of the humidor hanging on both sides of the huge wooden and glass doors. The front smoking lounge counter bar was decorated with cigar boxes and a huge array of finger food catered by Madelyn's Restaurant of Anthem, Arizona. Back in the rear of the store in the Members' Only Lounge there was a nice spread of cheese, vegetables, and fruits. You could not take a turn inside the store without being impressed by the presence of Old World Class, Rocky Patel and delicious food.

     There were raffles all throughout the night for many items, and the grand prize of one of the 3 boxes that Rocky Patel hand carried with him into the store the new "Decade" cigar by Rocky Patel Premium Cigars. The other two boxes sold out in no time as singles. Rocky Patel took time to mingle and hand autograph boxes and take personal photos with everyone. The crowd loved the personal time that Rocky spent with everyone that made their visit to Havana Cigars enjoyable.
     A comment was made and rumor began to spread, this may well be the biggest cigar event ever hosted in the State of Arizona. Rocky's rave review of the store as "the greatest store in Arizona" rang true for the 200+ that showed up for the huge event...The favorite smoke of the evening by everyone was one of the greatest cigar makers in the business, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars.
     And the Grand Opening night at Havana Cigars of Anthem, Arizona was filled with the enjoyment of cigar smoke, great food and drink, enjoyable music, and a wonderful visit by the cigar maker of the "Decade," Rocky Patel.

Marc Cote

Back to the outside of the front of the store
at about 5 pm where the crowd of 200+ had
gathered for the actual ribbon cutting ceremony
hosted by Rocky Patel and owner, Bobby
Chadha and family. Rocky handled the scissors
and dedicated the store for Bobby with well
wishes for his prosperous future at his new
cigar store in Anthem, Arizona. Food began
to make its rounds with several servers walking
around with trays of chicken sticks, crab puffs,
wrapped asparagus, and mini Cuban
sandwiches. The wonderful acoustical guitar
music of David Duff began to fill the air with
Spanish guitar and Jazz riffs the rest of the
night. Kronik Energy showed up with sampling
of its 4 different flavors of energy drinks and
gave away lots of t-shirts. A company was on
hand making commemorative magnetic and pin
on buttons that you could have your photo
taken along with Rocky Patel and have placed
on them as a souvenir.

Back inside a gathering in the front smoking lounge was listening attentively to Rocky Patel, in which he began talking about his start in the cigar business and the art of making premium cigars. Rocky then moved his way into the humidor and began explaining to those gathered inside the differences in the various
selections of his premium cigars. The crowd grew into huge lines both inside the humidor to select a few cigars or a box of Rocky Patel premium cigars and outside at the cash register to purchase the cigars and accessories such as humidors, cutters, and lighters. Anyone that pulled a cigar out to smoke was greeted by a wonderful young lady named Nicole who offered to cut and light each and every individual cigar for everyone.