Navy veteran Antonio Martin is elevating the vibes in Los Angeles.
Martin owns Debonair Cigar Lounge, which he created to showcase Black excellence, deliver the neighborhood collectively, and present folks the place the dapper males are within the space. “You come into the lounge, there’s jazz enjoying, it’s easy,” Martin instructed Ebony. “It’s a sure stage of sophistication, which isn’t discovered typically in LA. We’re displaying there are professionals past sports activities and appearing; we’re right here.”
Debonair Cigar Lounge’s inviting environment offers guests with a cultural expertise that intertwines Cuban and Latin features of the origins of cigar making. Martin’s lounge is embellished with heat, earth tones and options photographs of notable Black folks.
Martin’s mission is to set a vibe all through Los Angeles that pays homage to Black tradition and historical past.
“Outdoors of smoking cigars, I need to educate folks,” he mentioned. “I need them to depart actually realizing concerning the tradition and see themselves in it. I at all times attempt to share the true origins of cigars and cigar rolling.” The Debonair crew is all about amplifying social and networking alternatives—prospects can discover them internet hosting occasions all through Los Angeles.
Martin relocated to Los Angeles after retiring from the Navy. His curiosity within the cigar trade got here after a enterprise associate turned him right into a connoisseur, establishing a enterprise in Los Angeles got here with challenges.
“I needed one thing in the course of the town that was for us,” Martin shared. “…LA and surrounding areas aren’t massive followers of smoking generally, in order that was one of many greatest hurdles to recover from. To not point out, we’re in a distinct segment market. Not everybody smokes cigars, and we’re in Cali, the place marijuana is massive. So, we actually needed to introduce them to cigar smoking.”
Martin credit his crew and supporters for the success of his lounge.
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