The Wooden Indian Expeditions

[Smoked!]

Shop: Finck's Cigar Factory Outlet – Castle Hills, TX 78213

Location: The factory outlet is located on the north side of the 410 loop off West Avenue in the thriving burg of Castle Hills – population 4,202. Hee-haw! It is directly across the street from Aggie Park, for those of you who are familiar with the Greater San Antonio area.

Wooden Indian: Jackpot! Yahtzee!
I’ll add a show-n-tell post right after this review.

This is the outlet store for Finck's Cigar. The production facility is actually located near downtown San Antonio. Finck's claims to be the oldest cigar maker in the Texas, founded in 1893. There is a detailed company history and some interesting local history on the company website.

I stopped in on a Thursday on my way to the airport. The store is about two miles west of SAT. There was far more to see than I expected. Here’s a photo of the building and the logo.







Finck's has set up shop in what may be described as a converted residence. I call it a complete upgrade and renovation. In any case, the building has five rooms and some private office space. The following photos show the layout.

CIGAR ROOMS

This is the main room behind the small foyer and register desk. The employees have a couple tables set up for use in routine tasks and for stock maintenance. I really liked the kids at the counter. They were friendly, engaging, and helpful. What more can you ask? In this room, they stock an array of national brands. I noted some Padron Anniversary boxes and AF premium blends. Tasty. (You can see a few of those in part two right next to the Punch guy.) Except for the displays in the foreground, the entire room is filled with popular brands. This single room is larger than most retail cigar stores. Note the gianormous humidifier on the back wall.




Just behind the main room and work area is the accessory room. They offer all kinds of tobacco related merchandise and they seem to have decent prices. I picked up a ten cigar travel case for about twenty bucks. Maybe next time I’ll try one of those fine corncob pipes hanging above the second shelf near the other pipes. Perhaps not.

Check out the cabinet on the back wall. A local carpenter custom manufactures them. I have no idea if his prices are even in the ball park, but he can certainly build a fine piece of furniture. On the right-hand side, out of view, are shelves full of humidification devices and hygrometers. There are types I have never before seen. Oddly, there were no beads.





Cigars: Some of Finck's trademarks include Travis Club, Cheroots, Casino Club, and Alamo Sweets. Despite their swisheresque appearance, I felt compelled to purchase these. They mysteriously went missing from my checked baggage – ding-danged Homeland Insecurity! … (I know you’re reading this, and I know that you know that I know you’re reading this. Kiss my Tex-ass, you swisher snatchers! I hope you inhale! Fokkers.) Well. That’s better.

Ever heard of Moonshine Crooks? Nor have I, but they have them in stock if you’re curious. Along with the missing Alamo Sweets, I picked up some Travis Clubs and a couple barber-pole cheroots to try out. It was an impulse buy. They looked cool.




Another view showing the lockers and lounge:





Lockers and Lounge:
This is one of the best features of Finck's. You can see the lockers to the right, just below the panes of glass that separate the store from the smoking room. They offer excellent rates on lockers and some kind of “free cigar” arrangement for locker renters. If you’re nearby, it may be worth investigating.

In the lounge, I ran into a guy named Keith who is the Sergeant at Arms of the “The Happy Place Cigar Club”, of which I am now a proud card-carrying member. Based upon my impressions of the members I met on that day, this club represents exactly what the WIE thread is all about. It is a gathering place open to cigar smokers of any stripe.

So, why is the lounge walled off, you ask? Apparently, Texas has some fairly strict smoking regulations. Some of the laws have truck-sized loopholes. Bottom line – If you have a social club, you may designate a smoking area in your establishment for the use of that social organization. Keith told me that a few regular visitors to Fincks are attorneys. The arithmetic is simple. I think San Antonio locals may enjoy attending club sponsored events.



That’s Ernie sitting there on the left. Interesting cat. You can see about two-thirds of the room in this photo. Out of view is a counter with a coffee maker, some beverage service, and a restroom. It is similar to what you may find in a typical office break room. It’s not too shabby. Look at the giant torch on the coffee table. Dang. That’s Texas size!


Summary: Next time you visit San Antonio, plan to spend some time at the outlet. It is well worth the trip.


Disclaimer and Full Disclosure:
Do not smoke too much; it is bad for you. I have the utmost respect for our Native American brothers. They never wear metallic armor. Ice cream is good. Sometimes I use Stay-Puft marshmallows in hot cocoa. I have no financial interest or ownership interest in any cigar shop, store, retailer, wholesaler, distributor, manufacturer, packager, shipper, stevedore, roller, farmer, harvester, or tobacco farm land lease holder, nor do I receive any other benefit, explicit or implied, from the inclusion of or review of any establishment herein named, referred to, or otherwise described. One guy did give me a free cigar. I watch the Big Bang Theory on CBS. We should promote more old-school pirates. Arrrrgh. The most common commodity in this country is unrealized potential. I think Wooden Indians are cool. I wish more Cigar Store Indians were made from actual wood. Please, no flash photography. Yahtzee!

[Smoked!]

Part Two - The Indians of Finck's Cigar Factory Outlet.


This Indian statue is just inside the main entry in the foyer. I like the buffalo cape, but those are some loud pants, Chief.



Here is a closer look.



Shorty, here, is just inside the door to the humi…house. He is about three and one-half feet tall, and the detail is fairly good. You can see an eagle design on the breastplate with some turquoise beading. I wonder what the significance may be. The blue suede shoes are a nice touch.



This Indian almost escaped my notice. He is partially hidden behind a closed cigar case that contains Acids. Sealing Acids off from everything else is definitely a good idea. Even the chief looks a little nauseous.



Would you leave this Punch guy guarding the Padrons? I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. Look at those shifty eyes. He does seem to be a popular figure here in San Antonio. So far, just about every shop has had one on display. Or maybe he’s following me…

[ndv21]

I drive by fincks to and from work everyday. Its pretty fun on fridays since everybody comes out there to smoke after work. Their prices are amazing as well.

[Smoked!]

There are more expedition reports, updates on previous entries, and new debriefs to file.

Watch this space!

[Smoked!]

Episode #22 - Ybor City Series No. 1 – Ybor City, Florida… Hee Haw!

I was fortunate to have the pleasure of making this trip with the one and only badwhale during his sunny, funny visit to fabulous Florida. (Do not challenge him to a game of shuffleboard. Consider yourselves warned!) There is plenty of info online about the Ybor City neighborhood and the Tampa cigar scene in general. In light of the current economy and with the fact that Greater Tampa is flat on it’s financial a$$, the retailers and factories of Ybor are doing well just to stay in business after the collapse of the local real estate market.

Speaking of real estate deals, this area was revitalized in the late 90’s using the city center concept. What is “revitalization?” Well, I’m glad you asked. Revitalization is a process whereby well-connected landowners and politicians pitch an economic stimulus package in order to secure Public Funding, Government Grants, CRA tax exemptions, and subsidized Commercial Loans for the purpose of inflating the values of their slum property holdings and to build new malls nearby. Streets get resurfaced, new highway ramps are added, brokers and bankers float a mountain of debt to tax-advantaged yield hungry investors and unwitting REIT purchasers, politicians get re-elected, developers get rich and move to Vegas, and the targeted neighborhood gets a thorough cleaning along with a new paint job… plus a complimentary window wash and some coupons. Everyone wins. Except America. … Have you guys ever played Jenga? Never mind.

Ybor is one of the oldest Tampa-area neighborhoods. It was built back in the late 1800’s by real businessman with real profits from actual manufacturing and sales. Fascinating concept. (Sorry about the rant. I blame badwhale’s ADHD.) Ybor City currently attracts thousands of tourists, hundreds of local weekend revelers… and at least two cigar junkies.

We visited eight cigar shops on Seventh Avenue, which is the main road through Ybor. At the west end there was a mall-type shopping area called Centro Ybor, but we skipped that part. We also made a short excursion to Tampa ‘Closed on Monday’ Sweethearts, which is located a couple blocks away. They’re closed on Monday. Did I mention that?

Basically, the program worked like this: a) park and then walk both sides of the street, b) stop in and flirt with cigar girls, c) double back and buy stuff, d) snap a few photos. Things don’t always work out the way you think they will. We spent a few hours browsing and chatting with shop owners and staff. I didn’t take enough photos. Also, most of the cigar girls apparently had the day off.

King Corona was the first stop. This shop gets my “best overall cigar-related establishment” rank. I’m certain they’ll be delighted to learn of this prestigious award… or whatever. It is actually two businesses under one roof. There is a cigar humidor side and a café side with seating, beverage and bar service, and a café style menu. Wait. Did I say two businesses? There’s a third one if you include the barber shop. Yes, there’s a barber shop in the cigar store.


King Corona Cigar

There is a cool neon AF sign over top of the entry. I don’t know how long this sign has been up there, but the fittings look very weathered and the style fits the ‘period look’ the re-development people were going for. I would guess it is patterned after something from the late 1950’s or 60’s.



Outdoor seating – I’m pretty sure all six of those heavyweight banker types seated out front fell out of that sleek silver ’01 Saturn - clown car style. The excess weight may explain why the driver’s side rear hub cap popped off. Nice. … Classy.



At last! Finally, we have a cigar shop with an actual Wooden Indian statue made from actual wood! Oh, you can see the barber shop over his left shoulder. Here he is! Chief Corona:



King Corona is probably the most complete and spacious store/café/bar/barber shop on the street. They offer many national brands, but no house blend. There are private lockers behind display case. Check out this tourist trying to lift a few souvenirs on the five finger discount program. Miscreant.


Cool little window mural w/ street images/old tools/menus:



As we worked our way east on Seventh, We came upon perhaps the best non-cigar related display on the avenue:

Save the TaTa’s – this is my kind of town!



In the image below, check out the bra above the right side of the banner. That, my friends, is some serious rigging. All kidding aside, Save the Ta-Ta’s is a decent organization working toward an admirable goal. The Susan G. Komen organization has a bit more reverent approach, but you have to sell ideas to people in different ways. I am certain neither organization would mind me poking, um, making a little fun since I support them… fully… much like the devices in the display. In honesty, my own family has been affected by this scourge. Both are on my list for charitable financial support. I have enjoyed participation in a couple of the local Race for the Cure events sponsored by the latter group.




Next up: Ybor Cigars Plus. You’ll like this one, too!

[badwhale]

LOL. I give my gut a rating of 3.5 on a scale of 10....give it a few years

yBor was truly one of my vacation highlights. Thanks for hauling my butt around Smoked!

Not cigar related, but I think lunch was pretty noteworthy where 2 slices were ordered, and basically a 1/2 a pie came out...

Will

[Smoked!]

.

Yeah, I have a couple more shots of "The Shoplifter" coming up.

I forgot about the pizza! We ate all that, too. Holy Cow.


The other thing I would add was the stop by Tampa Sweethearts. I don't have enough material to make a separate post because they were closed on Monday. Did I mention that? There was someone in the office out front, too. I saw him at his desk on the phone. I'm pretty sure it was Artie or Lil' Carl. Really.

Here's the sign out front. Look at all the killer brands they manufacture. Wow. Frickin' Monday...




Thanks for joining me on the trip. Sorry for referring to you as a miscreant. ... Reprobate.