A question for Texan BOTL, especially Houston area folks

[countryblues]

Hey folks,
way, way, way, back in time, around 1993 or so, I was driving north through Houston in I-45 after leaving Hobby airport. I had in mind that I wanted a cigar and had my eyes peeled for some sort of smoke shop. I eventually spotted a place called "Texan Cigar Company" in a little stripmall. I whipped off the highway and discovered a most amazing place. When I walked into the building I spotted 4-5 heavyset men seated with their backs to me, apparently rolling cigars! A man walked up to me and we talked for a while. I don't remember the particulars but basically he owned the place, was importing tobacco leaves and manufacturing his own line of cigars there. We went into the humidor and I selected a sampling of cigars and bought them on the spot. It wasn't long after that, that I moved to Colorado and I've never been back there. Now that I am back in Texas I was wondering if the place still existed. I did a google search and found the name, address and phone of the place but when I called it was apparent that the number is being used by someone else now.

Has anyone else ever seen this place and/or know whatever happened to it?

 

[JonDot]

Not to threadjack but,when I lived in Houston you used to be able to get some awesome smokes at a local Flea Market.There was an old Cuban gentleman that rolled them for you.

 

[Mowee]

I remember the place...it was right inside the loop off of 45. I stopped there a few times and picked up some decent smokes. The last time through Houston...I did not see the place, but then again I was doing 45 mph. Someone is bound to know what happened to them.

 

[BigJake6904]

It's Don Carlos's Cigars off of 1960. They are still in business :thumbs:

Edit to add: they are right inside I-45, as Frank pointed out.

 

[Dozerhead]

It's Don Carlos's Cigars off of 1960. They are still in business :thumbs:

Edit to add: they are right inside I-45, as Frank pointed out.

I think I stopped at that place a few weeks ago coming back from Dallas after evacuating from Ike. Is that the place that's kind of attached to a gas station? I was surprised when I went into their walk in humidor. They had a great selection of Padrons, especially the Anni & Serie 26. They had the 80th for 'only' $27.99.

 

[reddragon72]

cool, I'm adding that one to my list. I'm still closer to serious cigars on 1960, but I love to drive around so I think I'll hit that place up in a few weeks...

 

[BigJake6904]

It's Don Carlos's Cigars off of 1960. They are still in business :thumbs:

Edit to add: they are right inside I-45, as Frank pointed out.

I think I stopped at that place a few weeks ago coming back from Dallas after evacuating from Ike. Is that the place that's kind of attached to a gas station? I was surprised when I went into their walk in humidor. They had a great selection of Padrons, especially the Anni & Serie 26. They had the 80th for 'only' $27.99.

nononononono thats elite cigars in the woodlands and thats actually on I45.....two totally diff shops....

 

[Dozerhead]

That's right. Thanks for jogging my memory. I couldn't remember the name earlier. I just remember being pleasantly surprised from the selection of a walk in humidor at a gas station.

 

[BigJake6904]

That's right. Thanks for jogging my memory. I couldn't remember the name earlier. I just remember being pleasantly surprised from the selection of a walk in humidor at a gas station.

They have some pretty sick prices as well. I was surprised when I went there awhile back...If you're looking for great deals, it's pretty impressive. They also have a smoking lounge lol.

 

[countryblues]

It's Don Carlos's Cigars off of 1960. They are still in business :thumbs:

Edit to add: they are right inside I-45, as Frank pointed out.

That's not it. But, I'll have to check them out. The Texan Cigar Company was right on the I-45 access road. While I was searching the net I found the following about the place I remember:

The TEXAN CIGAR CO. is located near I-45 & Woodbridge, right behind Grandy's, at:

6969 Gulf Freeway #260

Houston, Tx.

PHONE: (713) 643-8220 and ask for Fransisco or Marisol

Boasting a nice walk-in humidor and nicely appointed smoking area, you can enjoy one of their smokes while watching the rollers at work, plying the trade that has been taught for generations and has brought pleasure to so many. The folks at TEXAN CIGAR CO. will allow you to choose your own cigars from their aging humidor. Fransisco Hernandez, and his daughter-in-law Marisol will treat you to all of the information and education on the art of cigar making that you could want. These folks operate this family business with friendship and hospitality! All in all, it's an experience that every cigar smoker should enjoy at least once.

I tried calling the listed number and got someone who didn't speak English and didn't have a clue what I said when I asked about the store.

Now the Don Carlos place sounds like the same kind of place! But it's 82 miles from my place in Oyster Creek. They do have a website though so I'll have to order a few from them and if I find myself up on the north end one of these days I'll stop in and have a look around.





I just tried to call then phone # listed on the Don Carlos website and it is tied to a fax machine so I sent them an email to see if there is any connection.

 

[BigJake6904]

It's Don Carlos's Cigars off of 1960. They are still in business :thumbs:

Edit to add: they are right inside I-45, as Frank pointed out.

That's not it. But, I'll have to check them out. The Texan Cigar Company was right on the I-45 access road. While I was searching the net I found the following about the place I remember:

The TEXAN CIGAR CO. is located near I-45 & Woodbridge, right behind Grandy's, at:

6969 Gulf Freeway #260

Houston, Tx.

PHONE: (713) 643-8220 and ask for Fransisco or Marisol

Boasting a nice walk-in humidor and nicely appointed smoking area, you can enjoy one of their smokes while watching the rollers at work, plying the trade that has been taught for generations and has brought pleasure to so many. The folks at TEXAN CIGAR CO. will allow you to choose your own cigars from their aging humidor. Fransisco Hernandez, and his daughter-in-law Marisol will treat you to all of the information and education on the art of cigar making that you could want. These folks operate this family business with friendship and hospitality! All in all, it's an experience that every cigar smoker should enjoy at least once.

I tried calling the listed number and got someone who didn't speak English and didn't have a clue what I said when I asked about the store.

Now the Don Carlos place sounds like the same kind of place! But it's 82 miles from my place in Oyster Creek. They do have a website though so I'll have to order a few from them and if I find myself up on the north end one of these days I'll stop in and have a look around.





I just tried to call then phone # listed on the Don Carlos website and it is tied to a fax machine so I sent them an email to see if there is any connection.

Don Carlos runs some intresting hours....but to my knowledge, it's the only shop in Houston that has "in house" cigar rolling.

 

[reddragon72]

this all sounds cool. I'm between 249 and 290 in cypress and could not find to many places over here, but at least those you all are mentioning are not to far away.

 

[BigJake6904]

this all sounds cool. I'm between 249 and 290 in cypress and could not find to many places over here, but at least those you all are mentioning are not to far away.

Right on the otherside of 249 on 1960 you will find Serious Cigars and Lonestar Tobacco. Both on my top 3 list for shops in Houston. :thumbs:

 

[countryblues]

On a hunch I emailed Don Carlos and asked if they knew anything about the shop I went to. Here is his reply:

Mr. Wesley
Yes Thats my family , My father die on 2005 and my sister closed that location since sept. 2007. My store has been open for 7 yrs on the north side of Houston . My family continue roll cigars for me and some of my father rollers are also helping us. I'm very glad you took the time to find out about us since 1993 thats very cool.
Tell me what you us to smoke from us and see what we can do for you.