Arturo Fuente Cigar Club, the luxury cigar lounge co-owned by Carlos “Carlito” Fuente and Ciro Cascella, celebrated its 30th anniversary this past week.
The first Arturo Fuente Cigar Club opened in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, back in June of 1996. At the time, a concept like this was almost unheard of. While today we see the Dominican Republic as a destination for cigars, it was not always so.
“Think about this young man, 17 years old, whom I met, who wanted to sell cigars in the Dominican Republic. And I refused, because there was not a cigar culture there. It didn’t exist. Cigars were sold only to those who had a home in Manhattan or in Boston and traveled back and forth and bought the cigars elsewhere. Or, of course, we can’t forget La Aurora, and once a brand called La Bonera; it was available in grocery stores,” commented Carlito Fuente in a statement.
“Here comes a young man named Ciro Cascella. Today he celebrated his 30th anniversary of the Arturo Fuente Cigar Club. I don’t think there’s many cigar clubs that have survived that long. And it’s this prestigious, as respected, as admired. And it’s sought after to visit,” added Carlito.
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic, making it one of the world’s key cities. While the Dominican Republic certainly has a long history of producing cigars, the 30 years the Arturo Fuente Cigar Club has been in business have also made it a destination for cigar enthusiasts to enjoy.
“The Arturo Fuente Cigar Club has become an institution in the Dominican Republic. It’s become a place where, from presidents, to diplomats, to celebrities, to just anyone walking in — everybody who visits the Dominican Republic, it is a destination. They have to see the Arturo Fuente Cigar Club,” said Carlito.
The lounge is focused on hospitality, offering not just cigars but food and drinks. In particular, the Club offers fine dining options that it is proud of. Spirits are offered through a full liquor bar, and there is also a wine cellar. Private executive rooms are also available. It is also unmistakably Fuente. A couple of the rooms feature crown molding made from Opus X and Añejo cigars. Speaking of cigars, the Club offers one of the largest selections of hard-to-find Opus X and Añejos anywhere in the world.
While the Arturo Fuente Cigar Club has long been part of Santo Domingo’s culture, Fuente and Cascella have recently opened a second location. This second location is in Santiago de los Caballeros, the epicenter of Dominican cigar production. We had a chance to visit the Santiago location earlier this year, and it totally continues the mantra of being an absolute destination for cigar enthusiasts.
Photo Credits: Arturo Fuente Cigar Club.
