EILAND CIGAR LOUNGE & LIQUOR STORE
Where A Cigar Isn’t Just A Cigar
By GARY S. HATRICK
Classic writer Rudyard Kipling is noted for saying, “A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke.” Another classic writer from this side of the pond said, “If I cannot smoke cigars in heaven, I shall not go!” The wisdom of quoting these men may be questionable, but the sentiments behind them are likely well understood at the Eiland Cigar Lounge and Liquor Store.
Located at 37130 Eiland Blvd. at the corner of Eiland and Geiger Rd, Eiland Cigar Lounge and Liquor Store is an oasis for those who enjoy relaxing with a good cigar and good conversation. The cigar lounge enjoyed its grand opening only three months ago, with father and daughter team Umar and Mahum Farooq. Umar, 53, comes to Zephyrhills from Tampa. Originally from Pakistan, he came to Chicago by himself when he was 15, finishing high school and attending college on a scholarship. Then he went into business.
“I was around people who were all in business and always wanted to have my own business, you know, not to work for somebody, you know? to be a businessman. I started working while in school, part-time at Subway, which was my first business. I opened my first Subway back in 1993.” To date, Umar has been in the retail business for more than 35 years, owning Subway franchises, gas stations, and multiple different businesses in Chicago, Miami, and Tampa. The cigar lounge is a new venture.
“I enjoy smoking cigars and cigar smokers,” Umar said. “They’re very professional people - very calm, you meet with all different kinds of people when you are in the cigar business, it’s like a family! You sit there, you talk, you enjoy the cigar. You talk about tobacco and what you know about cigars. I like that environment.” Umar buys cigars directly from cigar manufacturers, but they originate from several different countries. “I carry the largest selection of cigars,” he continues, “mainly, we carry cigars from Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.”
The large selection also pertains to price: “We accommodate everybody.” “We have cigars from $5 to $400-$500.” Why do people buy a $500 cigar? “It’s just a, a symbol of status, they want to show off,” Umar explained. “Never pick a cigar by the price. Sometimes a $5 cigar is better. You know, people wear a Rolex, $100,000 for a watch you wear. You can buy a watch for $50, which does the same job and gives you the same time.”
As the name states, the lounge isn’t just for cigars. “In my establishment, people can enjoy a nice bourbon or whiskey, or their favorite drink,” Umar says. “We carry all high-end top-shelf whiskeys and bourbons that are hard to find in other locations. We also offer a very high-quality coffee with different flavors.” Umar says a lot of golfers like to come and enjoy the services of the lounge in the mornings. Twice a month, there is live Jazz music. A food truck called “Taco Bus” is also available at certain times to provide food.
For those who want a cigar on the fly, a drive-thru window is available. Eiland Cigar Lounge and Liquor Store is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to midnight. On Friday and Saturday, it is open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. To learn more and to find out when live jazz music is featured, visit their Facebook page or stop by and visit at 37130 Eiland Blvd, Zephyrhills. ♥
