BOE: Sweet Success

If you’re looking for a comfortable lounge where you can smoke a cigar and unwind, then Tobacco Exchange is the place for you. Edmond’s only cigar store combined with a relaxing smoking lounge is located at 13512 N. Eastern, just off Memorial and Boulevard.

Cigars can range from $1 to $30, with brands such as Ernesto Perez-Carillo, Punch, Tatuaje and Arturo Fuente, including higher-end cigars like Liga Privada and Padron, says General Manager Zac Troutt.

The lounge’s cigars come from all over the world, including places like Nicaragua, and each brand is chosen based on customer demand.

Troutt says the smell and taste of a cigar can vary significantly. “They can be sweet, leathery, nutty, woody, or spicy,” he explains. “A light, smooth cigar is comparable to tea, while heavier cigars would be similar to strong coffee.”

With comfy lounge chairs, leather couches and authentic British pub signs, the Tobacco Exchange lounge is a unique atmosphere with a friendly staff. “You get to know everyone who has been here more than once,” he says, adding, “I’d rather give up smoking, than give up the people.”

Troutt especially enjoys offering advice and recommendations to light smokers or novice cigar connoisseurs by pairing them with a light and smooth product, just as much as he enjoys helping Edmond residents purchase cigars as gifts. “One of the best facets of a cigar is sharing one as a celebration,” he says. “We are one of the few places that still sell ‘It’s a Boy’ or ‘It’s a Girl’ cigars… Some people only smoke two or three times a year for special occasions, so it’s a great way to celebrate.”

He says most return customers like to come in toward the end of the day to relax after work with a nice cigar. It helps them avoid the lingering scent that can be left within their home. “It’s a better alternative,” says Troutt.

Special events are another big draw for Edmond residents. A recent demonstration was conducted by a Cuban immigrant, now a Floridian, who taught over 50 in attendance the fine art of cigar rolling.

Edmond’s Tobacco Exchange is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. A second location is also available in Oklahoma City at 2836 N.W. 63rd Street, near May Avenue. For more information, call 405-286-8093.