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| A POLITICALLY SMART MOVE |
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Page 1 of 2  Plus: A tussle over Brazilian trademarks!Los Angeles, March 31 – The third Corona Cigar Company store to be opened in Central Florida had its ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday in downtown Orlando, showcasing not only a new location, but also a politically-astute way to help secure the future of cigars. Owner Jeff Borysiewicz invited Republican Congressman Ric Keller, who represents the district in which the store is located, to participate in the ceremony. Wrote Borysiewicz, “It is appropriate to have Congressman Keller have the honors since he and his fellow Republicans are credited with saving the cigar industry from complete decimation by voting against an unfair 6,000% cigar tax increase last Fall.” It’s a well-thought-out way to make a new friend, since local cigar shops rarely get Congressional visitors, unless they’re located in Washington, D.C. From that standpoint, it might be a worthwhile idea for all new stores to invite their elected representatives to showcase the difference between smokeshops that specialize in handmade cigars and pipe as opposed to cigarettes. The new Corona store also introduced a themed section, the Diamond Crown Lounge. It’s the second branded lounge inside a Corona shop, the other being the Avo Lounge inside the store located in Lake Mary, Florida. The new Diamond Crown Lounge has, according to Corona, “one of the world’s largest selection of fine Cognacs, aged Scotches, rare whiskies and pre-embargo Cuban Rums.” Naturally, there are plenty of cigars on hand and Corona claims to stock more than 1.5 million cigars between its three stores and its mail-order warehouse. On Saturday, April 5, an evening “Grand Opening” will be held beginning at 7 p.m., with specials on Cuesta-Rey, Diamond Crown and Diamond Crown Maximus cigars, sampling of Remy Martin Cognac and The Macallan Scotch and plenty of entertainment. Both Eric and Bobby Newman from the J.C. Newman Cigar Company are coming from Tampa to be present for the Grand Opening, as well as to showcase their famous cigar lines. Attendees will be smiling just as broadly as the statue of Punch which greets you when entering the original Corona store on West Sand Lake Road in Orlando! Happily, that already counts Congressman Keller and hopefully even more local officials who can begin to appreciate the impact that wanton taxes can have on an honorable industry that is about enjoyment and not addiction. A tussle over Brazilian cigars in the U.S.: Tobacconists across the country have been receiving letters concerning the richly-flavored, all-Brazilian cigar brands Dona Flor, Alonso Menendez and Aquarius. On March 2, a letter from Geraldo Scotto, Export Director of Brazilian cigar maker Menendez Amerino & Cia. Ltda. stated in part (reproduced in part verbatim, including grammatical errors): This message is to inform you that, Brazil Cigars & Tabacco, LLC, does not represent Menendez Amerino & Cia Ltda on the US territory anymore, since they did not follow the rules establish on the contract, so, they were forced to start litigation on the US court. |
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Did you know?
“"If the birth of a genius resembles that of an idiot, the end of a Havana Corona resembles that of a 5-cent cigar" - Sacha Guitry.
